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19 April 2024 / Tom Bedford
Issue: 8067 / Categories: Features , Profession , Artificial intelligence , Technology , Career focus
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AI: asset or liability for lawyers?

Tom Bedford predicts potential trip-hazards ahead & suggests ways to smooth the artificial intelligence road
  • Reminds lawyers to be aware of the limitations of AI.
  • Predicts negligence and duty of care claims arising from AI use.
  • Provides points to help firms get the switch to AI right.

According to ChatGPT, ‘AI can potentially be both an asset and a liability for law firms, depending on how it’s utilised and managed.’

We agree. Generative AI models are already demonstrating an ability to undertake legal research, review contracts and summarise legal documents. Given the current rate of technological advancement, AI will fundamentally alter the practice of law.

It is also popular, and firms are feeling the pressure to jump on the AI bandwagon in order to appear innovative and to maintain competitive edge. Reportedly, 75% of the largest firms in the UK are now using AI in some way.

Firms must remember, however, that AI has limitations. The current generation of AI chatbots possess a huge amount of

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NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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