SRA warns legal sector over AI hallucination and confidentiality concerns

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms about their obligations to use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies safely, highlighting AI hallucinations and data leaks as critical concerns.

The regulator noted that unchecked AI tools produce convincing yet entirely fictitious citations, cases, and assertions in legal work and court submissions. Senior members of the judiciary have reported potential Code of Conduct breaches, alongside several self-reports from solicitors relying on inaccurate AI-generated content. Courts have subsequently been forced to order additional evidence and hold extra hearings, disrupting case progression and undermining the rule of law.

In addition, entering confidential client information into public, unvetted AI tools risks severe breaches of confidentiality and wider data protection requirements. The SRA warned that failing to implement contractual and technical safeguards contravenes professional standards, harming clients through poor advice, compromising legal outcomes, and damaging public trust in the legal profession. Regulated professionals are reminded of their strict duty to independently verify all AI outputs and protect sensitive client data.

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