Law Society welcomes government AI initiatives for legal sector

Olivia Thorne (she/her) is the content manager at LawCareers.Net

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The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed the UK government’s announcements on the advisory AI Growth Lab, the AI Adoption Plan and the AI Economics Institute, highlighting their potential to support responsible AI adoption in legal services.

CEO of the Law Society Ian Jeffery said it supports the government’s recommendations and commented on the AI Growth Lab’s “potential to boost innovation by allowing legal service providers to safely test AI tools against the profession’s current robust legal standards”.

Given the legal profession’s substantial contribution to the UK economy – “around £60 billion annually and more than £9 billion in exports” – Jeffery highlights its position “at the forefront of economic growth and artificial intelligence use. He adds: “Lawyers push innovation forward not only by using AI in their daily work but also by helping technology companies build better products.”

The Law Society stressed the need for clear guidance on how the existing regulatory framework can be maintained as AI adoption increases, pointing to the AI Growth Lab’s potential to “innovate but also offer more clarity over the regulatory environment”.

The AI Adoption Plan was also welcomed, with the Law Society pointing to the need to remove barriers for smaller businesses and ensure “people are empowered with the right skills”. It said it’s looking forward to working with the government to overcome these hurdles and ensure “equitable access to the benefits of AI”.

In addition, the Law Society supported the creation of the AI Economics Institute and its focus on understanding the impact of AI on jobs. Jeffery indicated that the priority should be upskilling professionals and incorporating new roles to ensure technological development goes hand in hand with people development.

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