Dictation use across legal practice areas
Ryan Prins, account executive at Philips Dictation, highlights the timeless value of reliable dictation for the legal sector, as AI-assisted dictation and transcription tools take on a bigger role in law firms’ workflows
Despite advances in legal technology, dictation remains an established and effective working method in many areas of legal practice. Based on usage patterns across law firms, certain practice areas rely on dictation more heavily than others — it’s particularly prevalent in departments where time pressure, document volume and structured drafting are central to day-to-day work.
Key use-cases and outcomes of dictation for eight practice areas
1. Litigation and dispute resolution
Litigation and dispute resolution teams consistently demonstrate the highest levels of dictation use, with practitioners regularly dictating pleadings, witness statements, affidavits and procedural correspondence. Dictation allows complex arguments to be captured quickly, often immediately following hearings, supporting the efficient production of long-form, structured documents under tight deadlines.
2. Criminal law
Criminal law practices also make extensive use of dictation. Lawyers frequently dictate case notes, attendance notes and statements while working in police stations, courts and other remote locations. Mobile dictation enables contemporaneous record-keeping and reduces administrative burden in a practice area characterised by high volumes and urgent turnaround requirements.
3. Family law
Family law teams commonly rely on dictation for attendance notes, court forms, position statements and client correspondence. The combination of emotionally demanding subject matter and substantial documentation per case makes dictation a practical and reliable way to maintain accuracy and efficiency.
4. Personal injury and insurance litigation
Personal injury and insurance litigation teams use dictation extensively for medical reports, witness statements and claims documentation. These matters often involve repetitive document structures alongside detailed factual content, making dictation (particularly when supported by templates and transcription technology) well–suited to high-volume casework.
5. Employment law
Employment law shows moderate to high dictation usage. Lawyers regularly dictate advice notes, tribunal documents and settlement correspondence, often in response to time-sensitive client or HR queries. Here, dictation supports rapid drafting without interrupting substantive legal analysis.
6. Corporate and commercial practices
Corporate and commercial practices tend to use dictation less frequently — drafting is typically collaborative and reliant on tracked changes and established clause libraries. Nevertheless, dictation remains a useful tool for first drafts, transaction notes and meeting summaries, particularly at early stages of matters.
7. Real estate and conveyancing
Real estate and conveyancing teams use dictation to manage administrative volume efficiently. File notes, standard correspondence and completion statements are frequently dictated, helping practitioners progress matters while managing large caseloads.
8. Private client
Private client teams commonly use dictation for attendance notes, draft wills and letters of advice — the structured, repeatable nature of this work makes dictation an effective means of improving consistency and reducing rework.
The driving force and acceleration of dictation
Dictation remains a practical and well-established tool across many areas of legal practice, particularly where time pressure, document volume and accuracy are critical. While its usage varies by department, the underlying driver is consistent: enabling lawyers to capture information efficiently without compromising quality.
As AI-assisted dictation and transcription continue to mature, their role within legal workflows is expanding, rather than diminishing. For many firms, dictation is no longer simply a productivity aid, but an integral part of modern practice management — supporting faster turnaround, improved consistency and more sustainable working patterns.
