From US sanctions to UK High Court referrals under the Hamid jurisdiction, courts have made clear that professional duties cannot be delegated to technology.
Singh explains that AI systems predict plausible-sounding text rather than verify truth, meaning fabricated cases can appear alarmingly authentic. As Dame Victoria Sharp warned, misuse carries ‘serious implications for the administration of justice and public confidence’.
While techniques such as retrieval-augmented generation may reduce risks, Singh stresses that every reference must still be checked manually. His message is unequivocal: ‘Legal research should never be completely outsourced to AI’. Used responsibly, AI can augment practice; used lazily, it risks misconduct, reputational damage and loss of trust.
