In a judgment published last Thursday, a circuit judge sitting in Walsall explained that he was referring two solicitors to their regulator because false AI-generated case citations had been submitted in an appeal he was hearing.
“Lawyers who cite fictitious cases must face serious consequences,” said Judge Grimshaw, “and in the current environment, where this is a problem that is significant (and indeed seems to be growing), the guidance in Ayinde indicates that judges should take a robust approach.”
Mahmood Hussain, a consultant at AML Legal in Dudley, had acknowledged that documents citing false judgments had been prepared with the help of a paralegal. The judge observed that an appeal bundle and a covering email had apparently been signed by Kossar Qureshi, the firm’s director.
It’s a cautionary tale for solicitors. But the perils of using artificial intelligence may be even greater for barristers. To help them balance risks and rewards, their regulator will be launching new guidance later today. Strikingly, it encourages members of the bar to take a risk-based approach when using new technology.
To set the scene, I’ve been discussing the new guidance with the Bar Standards Board’s director of strategy, policy and insights, Ewen MacLeod (pictured), on the latest episode of A Lawyer Talks.
My weekly podcast is a bonus for paying subscribers to A Lawyer Writes. Everyone else can hear a short taster by clicking the ► symbol on the graphic at the top of this page.
