The high court warned lawyers that relying on fake AI-generated citations, even unknowingly, could lead them to face serious professional consequences and risk a wasted costs order. While legal professionals can face severe sanctions when using AI inappropriately, the public should not be left exposed either when they are using AI to understand and resolve their legal issues.
The Law Society, as part of its newly published report “21st century justice”, is asking the government to create a new AI-powered tool to help people understand their legal issues and find the best way to address them. It will be a simple-to-use government-backed tool, like the online NHS 111 service that guides people to the right support on common legal problems such as divorce, employment, housing and wills. Just like health and education, justice is a public service and as such it should not be the privilege just of those with means. A cost-benefit analysis found that this tool could save the justice system around £72 million over five years.
The aim is to modernise the system and level the playing field for anyone seeking justice. To reach a solution that serves the interests of the public, the professional world and, above all, for the sake of justice, everyone needs to be consulted: lawyers, technology firms and people. We must all work together to future-proof justice by using innovation and all available tools safely.
Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society of England and Wales
One Response
There is littel point in ” modernising”, wthout openess, transparency and most importantly HONESTY. It is claimed this is required under FCA but it appears to be unchallenged. For example theft of my shares by teh Directors and Lloyds Bank by insider dealings ( perhaps under undue influence by Standard Life and others) in 2013 is one example. It is claimed by Helen Wakefors LLP (Company Secretary following David Johnson) this was an error. THat was in 2013 and thier error has not yet been remided ? Now with everedSutherland their most senior partner is on the job – for procrastinating insted of acting under instructions of the Chancery in June 2025 to rectify the Company House Register return the shares and outstanding dividends ( Missing Dividends by Fraud) and money Laundering by Lloyds Bank. My thanks to Access and Lexis Nexis for general information regarding Compliance and Croner for information provided.