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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.

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