Law Society warns lawyers remain responsible for work produced using AI
updated on 26 October 2026
Bethany Wren (she/her) is head of content and events at LawCareers.Net
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The Law Society of England and Wales has issued new guidance on the use of AI in legal practice, stressing that solicitors cannot transfer their professional responsibilities to AI tools. The practice note states that solicitors remain accountable for work carried out for clients, courts and third parties, regardless of whether AI was used to produce it.
The guidance warns that no AI tool should automatically be considered safe. Law firms should assess factors including providers’ terms of service, how client data will be stored and shared, the jurisdiction in which providers operate and the likelihood of tools producing inaccurate or misleading information. AI-generated legal work should also be appropriately reviewed by a solicitor, with references thoroughly checked before material is shared externally.
The Law Society has also encouraged transparency around AI use. Solicitors should provide clients with appropriate information about how they’re using the technology and may ask clients to disclose when they’ve used AI to create materials provided to their lawyer. Client-generated materials should still be reviewed and verified.
Law Society President Brett Dixon commented: “AI has enormous potential, but innovation cannot come at the expense of professional integrity or client protection. Solicitors do not need to be technology experts, but they do need to understand the risks.”
He added that overreliance on the technology could create a “catastrophic gap of future legal skills and knowledge”, particularly if it prevents junior lawyers from developing core legal skills.
The guidance comes as AI becomes increasingly embedded in legal work, but emphasises that it should support rather than replace lawyers. For aspiring and junior lawyers, the message is that developing fundamental skills such as legal research, analysis and professional judgement remains essential, even as firms increasingly adopt AI tools.
