The regulator flags inaccurate legal citations, supervision and confidentiality risks
The Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales received 42 reports of potential AI-related wrongdoing between July 2025 and July 2026, with several investigations still ongoing as the profession adapts to the technology.
The reports include concerns about inaccurate legal citations, supervision and confidentiality. The SRA has also dealt with cases involving firms or individual lawyers who presented false cases or arguments to courts after relying on AI-generated research.
The Law Society Gazette reported that the SRA has issued a warning notice and guidance on the responsible use of AI. It said the guidance is not intended to restrict the technology but to reinforce solicitors’ existing professional obligations and the need for appropriate human oversight and governance.
The SRA identified AI-generated inaccuracies, commonly known as “hallucinations”, as a key concern in legal research, advice, analysis and submissions to courts. It stressed that solicitors remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of work produced with AI assistance.
The guidance also highlights supervisors' responsibilities. Solicitors supervising junior or non-authorized colleagues may breach regulatory requirements and professional duties if false citations reach a court without adequate review or supervision.
Confidentiality presents another significant risk. The SRA said entering confidential client information into public AI tools such as ChatGPT, where appropriate safeguards are absent, may breach confidentiality and data protection requirements.
The regulator warned that disclosing case details to public AI systems could also result in legal professional privilege being permanently waived. It said the risks remain even when firms develop or explore their own in-house AI systems.
Firms and solicitors should ensure client data remains in a secure environment, is not accessible to unauthorized third parties, is not used to train AI models unless expressly authorized and appropriate and is not retained longer than necessary, the guidance states.
SRA executive director of strategy and policy Aileen Armstrong said, “AI is already benefiting consumers and legal professionals, and we are increasingly seeing firms use it in innovative ways to improve services and efficiency. However, the use of AI does not change the professional standards expected of solicitors and law firms.”
The Law Society of England and Wales welcomed the guidance. Vice-president Brett Dixon said, “As a regulated profession, solicitors have the responsibility to act in the best interests of their client, which includes using AI and other technologies responsibly. The warning notice is a reminder of how this should be applied in practice.”
Dixon also called for continued clear guidance from the SRA as AI develops, allowing solicitors to use the technology responsibly while meeting their professional duties.
