Perkins Coie Uses AI Avatars to Train Lawyers

Perkins Coie's London office is beta testing AI-powered avatars built with Levra to train lawyers on soft skills in simulated, private conversations.

The program marks a shift in how law firms approach professional development. Instead of relying solely on in-person coaching or passive learning, Perkins Coie is using generative AI to let lawyers practice interpersonal skills before applying them in real client situations. As more legal tech companies release simulation-based training tools, this move signals a growing trend in the sector.

The Training Program

Perkins Coie partnered with Levra, an AI training platform founded in 2022, to develop the program. Levra serves professionals across multiple industries by providing AI avatars that run training simulations focused on emotional and social intelligence.

The simulations cover skills including networking, collaboration, conflict resolution, and delegation. Lawyers at all experience levels can use the platform.

The firm began working with Levra in the first quarter of 2026. The beta test is currently running in its London office.

How the Avatars Work

The avatars simulate real conversations through video call-style interactions. Lawyers engage with the avatar as they would with a colleague or client, practicing responses in a controlled environment.

Ian Bagshaw, managing partner at Perkins Coie's London office, explained the approach: "We're working with [Levra] in order to create a training pathway across core skills that allows our talent to practice, learn, practice outside of client situations so that when they're in client situations and when they're in difficult internal situations, they are prepared, they've seen it before, they understand how best to communicate."

The platform also supports other interaction formats, including message exchanges and email simulations. However, Bagshaw noted that the video call format offers the most interactive and accessible experience.

The Case for a Safe Space

One goal of the program is to create an environment where lawyers feel comfortable making mistakes. In high-pressure professional settings, fear of failure can prevent people from attempting new skills or accepting feedback.

Bagshaw addressed this directly: "The key thing is making it acceptable for people to fail as part of a learning experience and in a law firm environment, that's often when people crave perfection, any criticism can cause people to lose confidence, not want to attempt something that may risk them failing."

The avatar format addresses this by keeping interactions private. Bagshaw noted that an unexpected benefit was that lawyers enjoy using Levra because they feel confident their interactions with the avatar remain between them and the platform. This level of privacy is difficult to replicate in human coaching environments.

Business Impact

Bagshaw connected the soft skills training directly to client outcomes and firm growth. Lawyers who develop strong interpersonal skills are better positioned to act as trusted advisers, which directly affects client retention.

"Clients want a trusted adviser as a lawyer, clients want value for money from that trusted adviser, and if you hit both of those metrics, you'll get a repeat business relationship," Bagshaw said. "Repeat business relationships not only build careers, but build law firms."

The program is part of a wider movement in legal tech. In February 2026, legal training provider AltaClaro and legal transcription provider Verbit launched DepoSim, an AI-powered deposition simulator. That same month, legal training provider Hotshot announced a partnership with Stockholm-based legal AI company Legora to develop simulated legal matters for practicing with AI tools before applying them to live client work.

Perkins Coie has 21 offices across the United States, Asia, and Europe.

About Perkins Coie

Perkins Coie is an international law firm with more than a century of history representing clients in the technology and innovation sectors. The firm operates 21 offices across the United States, Asia, and Europe. Its stated vision is to serve as the most trusted adviser to innovative companies and industry leaders by delivering strategic legal solutions and client service.