A new wave of young lawyers and evolving client expectations is pushing the legal industry to automate more of its workflows and processes. The demand has created an opportunity for legal automation startups, especially ones launched by lawyers and legal staffers who have left private practice. 

Nnamdi Emelifeonwu, founder of legal drafting software company Define and a former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer attorney, noted that today's clients are "expecting that law firms are utilizing technology to make their work much more efficient [and] they're expecting law firms to utilize technology to foster more collaboration."

What's more, dissatisfied and innovative-minded lawyers are also spurring automation. "As technology becomes more advanced I think the legal workforce becomes more younger and tech savvy. Naturally, you have a situation where the new entrants into the profession are not going to be satisfied with the old ways of doing things," Emelifeonwu added.