New guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice are being finalised, lawyers heard Friday, as the island’s courts move to regulate technology that both the chief justice and attorney general have cautioned could undermine professional competence if misused.
Addressing a special sitting of the Supreme Court to admit 34 new attorneys to the Bar, Chief Justice Leslie Haynes, in supporting an earlier caution by Attorney General Dale Marshall against relying on AI to defend clients, informed the legal fraternity of pending guidelines to manage its use.
He told the new lawyers: “With respect to artificial intelligence, I am in support of the use of technology to improve efficiencies and enhance time management. It is clear to me that we are long past an era in which technology is not part of the backbone of the legal practice. I want you all, however, to stand on your own research and to read your authorities.
“There is no artificial-generated substitute for you knowing the case that you have to argue or defend. Part of your claim to competence is being able to stand on your own work. Just like your secretary, AI can assist you, but it cannot be a substitute for you. The honourable attorney general’s submission that AI cannot replace sound judgement is fully accepted by the bench. We have, in draft, a practice direction related to AI, which will be reviewed by the Rules Committee at its very next meeting.”
In his address to the young lawyers, Attorney General Marshall declared his aversion to the use of AI in the practice of law, except in “very limited ways”.
He referenced several instances in the region where courts have chided and chastised attorneys for relying on artificial intelligence to “the detriment of their clients’ case, but also to the impoverishment of the court and our jurisdiction . . . not to mention their own professional reputation”.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2025/10/17/marshall-sound-judgement-not-technology-makes-good-lawyers/
