When AI meets Law – the costs can skyrocket
With the continued rise in the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, legal costs are increasing because of the need to untangle the problems AI can leave behind.
As legal professionals, we are seeing a sharp increase in people turning to AI for what they believe to be ‘free legal advice’. Unfortunately, we are also witnessing the unintended consequences of relying on a user-driven algorithm, which can ultimately result in higher legal costs. While AI can be useful for gathering information, it cannot understand individual circumstances, identify legal risks or provide tailored advice. In many cases, it simply gets the law wrong.
We are increasingly instructed to rectify errors where AI-generated documents, correspondence or agreements have created confusion and inaccuracies. More concerningly, we are now seeing beneficiaries raising disputes over estates, and divorcing spouses and parents attempting to use AI to represent themselves in court proceedings. These situations often become more complex and time-consuming to resolve, increasing costs for everyone involved, particularly those who have sought professional legal advice and are left responding to parties who have not.
Technology undoubtably has an important place in modern legal services, and we embrace innovation. However, when it comes to significant life decisions, AI should complement professional legal advice, not replace it. Taking advice at an early stage can often save considerable time, stress and expense in the long run.
