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
