AI in Law: Balancing Innovation, Integrity, and Justice

The Law Society: Managing AI’s Impact on Legal Practice

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how law firms and legal teams operate. Many solicitors across firms are already using or testing generative AI tools to assist with tasks like legal research, contract review, and document drafting. The Law Society of England and Wales supports legal professionals by offering clear guidance and resources to help them use AI responsibly.

AI in Legal Workplaces

The Law Society’s AI strategy focuses on three key principles: innovation, impact, and integrity.

• Innovation: AI streamlines routine legal tasks, freeing lawyers to focus on strategic work. However, AI is a tool—not a replacement for human judgment.
• Impact: AI can reduce costs and improve access to legal services. But AI systems depend on the quality and fairness of their training data, which can sometimes introduce biases or produce results unsuitable for UK law.
• Integrity: Lawyers must maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive data carefully, and uphold legal ethics. AI use raises questions about accountability and transparency that require careful consideration.

Ensuring Fairness and Accountability

The Law Society is actively engaging with government bodies and experts to ensure AI regulation keeps pace with technology. The UK government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan reflects this focus, targeting investment, skills development, and expanding public access to AI knowledge.

However, challenges remain. For example, AI-generated advice often comes from complex “black box” models, where the decision-making process is not transparent. This lack of clarity makes it difficult for lawyers and clients to fully trust AI outcomes. The Society advocates for clear disclosure of AI data sources to improve transparency.

Legal professionals face important questions:

• Who is responsible if AI-assisted advice contains errors—the AI developer or the solicitor?
• How should liability be handled when clients rely on a mix of AI-generated and human legal guidance?

Global Cooperation and Ethical Use

Different regions are adopting varied AI regulations. The EU has introduced strict rules for large AI models, while the UK and US have signed agreements to collaborate on AI development in public services. Such global cooperation is essential for addressing AI’s cross-border nature.

The Law Society stresses that innovation must be balanced with ethical safeguards. For example, the UK has criminalised sexually explicit deepfakes to protect individuals. Ensuring AI is used fairly and transparently will strengthen trust in legal services and the justice system.

Supporting Legal Professionals

The Law Society remains committed to helping lawyers and the public adapt to AI’s growing role in legal services. The goal is to leverage AI to improve efficiency and access to justice, without compromising the essential human judgment that underpins the rule of law.

By focusing on innovation, impact, and integrity, the legal profession can embrace AI tools safely and effectively, supporting a justice system that is fair, accountable, and fit for the future.

For those interested in building AI skills relevant to legal and HR roles, resources such as Complete AI Training’s tailored courses offer practical guidance on responsible AI use and implementation.