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10 June 2026
Issue: 8165 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence , Legal services , Liability
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Stop asking chatbots, say solicitors

Clients who use chatbots for legal advice before turning to solicitors often cause delays or make their situation worse, solicitors have warned

Leeds-based Blacks Solicitors say they frequently come across legal documents or drafted advice generated by artificial intelligence (AI) by their own clients or third parties. Rather than saving time or reducing costs, however, these often delay matters, cause compliance issues or add legal risk.

Phil Parkinson, head of commercial at Blacks Solicitors, said: ‘The output is often inaccurate and we have spent time, for instance, advising our clients on documents they have received which don’t reflect the correct commercial understanding or are not legally compliant.’

He warned that misunderstanding the distinction between general AI-generated information and regulated legal advice can expose businesses to significant liability risks as liability falls solely on the individual or business.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

From childhood dreams of the Bar to some of the country's most challenging cases, Maryam Syed KC explains why she has never stopped standing up for others

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft significantly expands Cyber team, hiring three Cyber partners

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson appoints senior healthcare leader Professor Clive Kay as strategic adviser

NEWS
As family justice moves further away from the courtroom, collaborative law is emerging as an increasingly important route to resolving separation disputes
A busy period for employment law is producing important lessons for employers, employees and tribunals alike
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.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
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