industry Report
2026 Australian Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report
What 400 Australian law firm professionals reveal about growth, client experience, talent pressure, and the real barriers holding firms back.
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Australia’s midsize law firms are not standing still, but they’re not transforming either
The 2026 Australian Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report reveals a sector recalibrating: deeply focused on client satisfaction, cautious about growth, and increasingly constrained by time, talent, and fragmented systems.
This year’s report expose what’s shaping decision-making inside midsize firms and why many priorities remain stubbornly difficult to execute.
Why this report matters
A three-year view into how midsize law firm priorities are shifting and where momentum is stalling
For the third consecutive year, Actionstep has surveyed midsize law firms to understand how priorities evolve as market pressure, client expectations, and technology maturity collide.
- Firms overwhelmingly prioritise client satisfaction, yet struggle under growing workload and time pressure
- Confidence in personal service remains high, while digital client experience lags behind
- Growth ambitions persist, but expansion is increasingly constrained by capacity
- Technology is seen as essential yet adoption is incremental, not transformative
A glimpse inside
- Client satisfaction leads strategy (61%), while talent constraints persist (44%) with no improvement year over year.
- Growth is conservative, driven by new clients in existing markets (56%) amid ongoing capacity pressure (66%).
- AI is now mainstream (56%), but tech investment remains efficiency-led, with cost reduction the primary driver (59%).
Get the reality check
This isn’t a glossy future-state vision. It’s a grounded, data-backed view of how midsize law firms actually operate today. Get a clear picture of how other midsize firms are adapting to today’s demands and planning for tomorrow. Download the report now and make data-driven decisions that position your firm for long-term success.
Get the ReportClear analysis of where priorities collide with capacity
Insight into why technology adoption stalls even when intent is high
Practical context for firm leaders balancing growth, talent retention, and client expectations
Shape the future of your firm
Whether you’re a Managing Partner, Head of Operations, IT Manager, CEO, or Lawyer, don’t miss out on this research built for you. Leverage the free insights to align people, process, and technology.
About Actionstep
The Australian Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report is part of Actionstep’s ongoing commitment to providing evidence-based insights that help law firm leaders make better strategic decisions.