Google AI Overview wrongly says Irish solicitors were struck off, Law Society complains

Law Society of Ireland raises concerns after Google's AI Overview misstates solicitors were struck off

The Law Society of Ireland has filed a complaint with Google after its AI Overview feature produced incorrect statements that some solicitors were struck off when they were not. In several instances, the AI-generated summary also cited the Law Society's own website as the source.

For practitioners and firms, this is not a minor glitch. A false "struck off" claim in search can create immediate reputational damage, client confusion, and referral risk.

What happened

Google's AI Overview surfaced inaccurate discipline outcomes for certain Irish solicitors. The summaries reportedly referenced the Law Society site, despite the underlying information being wrong.

The Law Society, headquartered at Blackhall Place, has asked Google to correct these issues and prevent repeat errors. At stake is public trust in both the profession and authoritative records.

Why this matters to legal professionals

Search results are often a client's first touchpoint. An AI summary that asserts a solicitor has been struck off can distort decisions, erode confidence, and trigger unnecessary enquiries or complaints.

Because AI Overviews synthesize across sources, a single misinterpretation can be amplified. Corrections must be fast, documented, and verifiable.

Immediate steps for solicitors and firms

• Monitor your name and firm: Run regular searches in an incognito window. Set up alerts for your name, firm, and key partners.
• Capture evidence: Screenshot the AI Overview with timestamps and URLs. Keep a log of when the error appears or disappears.
• Request corrections: Use the "Send feedback" option on the AI Overview. Provide screenshots, the correct disciplinary status, and links to authoritative records.
• Escalate via webmaster channels: If you manage your site, submit a concise report through Google Search Console. Reference canonical pages that state accurate details.
• Client communication: If harm is likely, prepare a brief statement clarifying your status and pointing to official sources.
• Consider legal options: Where reputational damage is material, seek advice on defamation and data accuracy remedies. Act promptly.

Reduce the risk of future errors

• Strengthen authoritative profiles: Ensure your profile on the Law Society of Ireland website and your firm site is current and consistent.
• Use structured data: Add Schema.org Person/Organization markup with accurate "sameAs" links (firm profile, official registers, professional directories).
• Avoid ambiguity: Publish clear bios, dates, and roles. Ambiguous or outdated pages are more likely to be misread by automated systems.
• Consolidate duplicates: Merge or redirect legacy pages that could conflict with current information.

Guidance for regulators and professional bodies

• Clarify status pages: Make discipline outcomes unambiguous and machine-readable (clear headings, dates, and final status).
• Provide canonical records: Use stable URLs and structured data. Prominently label withdrawn or corrected decisions.
• Feedback loop: Establish a direct reporting channel with platforms for urgent corrections affecting public trust.

Where AI Overviews fit

AI Overviews summarize across sources and can misinterpret legal language or context. Google outlines how the feature works here: About AI Overviews. Even with safeguards, errors occur. That's why verified, structured, and consistent data matters.

Build internal literacy around AI-generated search

Assign ownership for periodic search audits. Document a playbook for reporting errors, updating pages, and communicating with clients. Train staff to recognize and respond quickly to misinformation in search.

If your team is building skills in AI-aware content and QA, explore focused learning paths: Latest AI courses.

Bottom line

False AI summaries are a reputational risk you can manage. Monitor, document, correct, and reinforce authoritative signals across your web presence. When in doubt, point back to official records and move fast on escalations.