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NLJ this week: Fake it till you make it

06 June 2025
Issue: 8119 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Artificial intelligence , Costs , Procedure & practice
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In this week’s NLJ, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School, AKA The Insider, tackles the ‘infamous judicial review in which no less than five fake authorities were cited’

The chief suspect is artificial intelligence (AI). AI aside, Regan notes a general propensity for excessive wordage. He writes: ‘Too many advocates cannot resist the temptation to chuck in citations.’

He also recalls the tale of—pre-AI—a lawyer whose invented judgment—like faked Masters that hang in galleries for years—was so good that it impressed a judge. Regan also covers a recent case on costs and the upcoming agenda at the Rule Committee. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
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