Use of Generative AI: Guidance for the Legal Profession

Law Society of Ireland

last revised 2026-05-20last verified 2026-09-162 versionscountry page →

GuidanceIn forcePermissiveConfidentialityVerification dutyDisclosureCompetence

map categories:Bar guidance on generative AI Client data in AI tools Duty to verify AI output Client consent and transparency Technological competence Supervision of AI work Vendor due diligence Mandatory AI training

The Law Society of Ireland's December 2025 generative-AI guidance for solicitors identifies suitable and unsuitable uses, requires client confidentiality and personal data to be protected when information is entered into tools, calls for transparency where legal or professional obligations require it, requires human verification of output, and addresses the EU AI Act Article 4 literacy duty.

Applies to: lawyers, firms
Effective: 12 Nov 2025
Current version: December 2025 guidance (current download path) · 20 May 2026
Last verified: 16 Sept 2026
Official text: www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/technology-hub/2025-ai-guidance.pdf

What the document requires

Lists suitable and unsuitable uses of generative AI in solicitors' practice.
Client confidential information must not be entered into tools without adequate safeguards.
Solicitors should be transparent with clients about material AI use.
Firms must address the EU AI Act Article 4 AI literacy obligation for staff.
All output must be verified; the solicitor remains responsible.

Version history

Version	Date	What changed	Source
December 2025 guidance (current download path)current	2026-05-20	The Law Society guidance page now links the December 2025 PDF from /globalassets/technology-hub/2025-ai-guidance.pdf; the PDF cover and core provisions remain the December 2025 guidance, and the server Last-Modified header was 20 May 2026.	official
Version 4 (12 November 2025)	2025-11-12	First version recorded.	official

Related court incidents on the record

Guerin v O'Doherty, [2026] IECA 482026-03-26 Dismissal

Read our analysis: Ireland's AI guidance for lawyers and judges: the version record →

Sources

Cite this record

SafeLegalAI Legal AI Regulation Tracker, "Use of Generative AI: Guidance for the Legal Profession" (Law Society of Ireland, December 2025 guidance (current download path), 2026-05-20), safelegalai.com/regulation/ireland/law-society-ireland-generative-ai-guidance (accessed 2026-10-07). Data: CC BY 4.0.