Law Society warns of AI risk as it launches new guide to support safe use of tech
updated on 31 March 2026
Olivia Thorne is the content manager at LawCareers.Net
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The Law Society of England and Wales has published a new practical guide designed to help solicitors make safer decisions when using AI, warning of challenges to data protection, unreliable and inaccurate outputs, and biased results.
With the majority of law firms having now adopted AI has part of routine legal tasks, including drafting and analysis, the Law Society’s new guide outlines the practical steps required for buying new technology, including:
- identifying goals and requirements;
- deciding what technology is needed;
- developing a brief;
- finding and selecting a supplier;
- negotiating contracts; and
- embedding and evaluating the technology.
The guide warns against choosing the “wrong product” given the rapid advances in technology, and recommends avoiding “products or solutions that are likely to become outdated in the next three to five years”.
The Law Society’s Chief Executive Ian Jeffery said the new guide “helps firms ask the right questions, avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions”. Jeffery acknowledged the “enormous” benefits of technology, but warned against the “downside” if new technologies aren’t adopted “safely and responsibly”.
The new guide maintains that “verification and human oversight are ongoing operational requirements” when using AI.
