Generative AI: the essentials

Law Society of England and Wales

last revised 2026-06-01last verified 2026-09-032 versionscountry page →

GuidanceIn forcePermissiveVerification dutyConfidentialityCompetenceSupervision

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

The Law Society of England and Wales' practical guide to generative AI for solicitors and firms, updated in June 2026. It is permissive with cautions: solicitors may use generative AI but must keep a human in the loop, verify output, protect client confidentiality, understand the tool's limits and ensure staff are competent and supervised.

Applies to: lawyers, firms
Effective: 01 Nov 2023
Current version: June 2026 update · 01 Jun 2026
Last verified: 03 Sept 2026
Official text: www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/ai-and-lawtech/generative-ai-the-essentia…

What the document requires

Generative AI output must be reviewed by a competent human before it is relied on.
Client and confidential information should not be entered into tools without appropriate contractual and technical safeguards.
Firms should set an AI use policy and train staff on approved tools.
Solicitors should understand how the tool works, including whether prompts are retained or used for training.

Version history

Version	Date	What changed	Source
June 2026 updatecurrent	2026-06-01	Refreshed guidance on choosing tools, human oversight and client confidentiality; remains the Law Society's current statement on generative AI for solicitors.	official
Original	2023-11-01	First version recorded.	official

Related court incidents on the record

Cork & Anor v Smith, [2026] EWHC 1199 (Ch)2026-05-22 Regulatory referral
Ayinde v London Borough of Haringey; Al-Haroun v Qatar National Bank2025-06-06 Regulatory referral

Read our analysis: UK legal-profession AI guidance: version histories for solicitors and barristers →

Sources

Law Society — Generative AI: the essentials

Cite this record

SafeLegalAI Legal AI Regulation Tracker, "Generative AI: the essentials" (Law Society of England and Wales, June 2026 update, 2026-06-01), safelegalai.com/regulation/uk/law-society-generative-ai-essentials (accessed 2026-09-04). Data: CC BY 4.0.