he Solicitors Regulation Authority has received dozens of complaints over the potential misuse of AI, as the profession continues to grapple with how to embrace the technology safely.
A total of 42 reports of AI-related wrongdoing were received between July 2025 and July 2026, the SRA said, with a number of investigations ongoing. Issues under investigation include inaccurate legal citations, supervision and confidentiality.
The Gazette has reported several times in the past year on firms or individual lawyers being referred to the SRA after presenting false cases or arguments to the court based on AI research and reliance.
The regulator is now concerned enough about the safe and responsible use of AI to have published a warning notice and guidance intended to remind solicitors of their professional obligations. The idea is not to hinder or restrict the use of AI, but to highlight the importance of ensuring appropriate human oversight and governance arrangements.
The SRA says its key concerns are around AI-generated?inaccuracies, or?‘hallucinations’ in legal?research, advice, analysis?and submissions to the?court.
It is also seeing instances of confidential client information being entered into public AI tools such as ChatGPT that lack appropriate safeguards,?risking?potential breaches of confidentiality and wider data protection requirements.
