Risk Outlook report: The use of artificial intelligence in the legal market

Solicitors Regulation Authority

last revised 2023-11-20last verified 2026-10-051 versioncountry page →

ReportIn forcePermissiveVerification dutyConfidentiality

map categories:Bar guidance on generative AI Duty to verify AI output Client data in AI tools

The SRA's Risk Outlook report of 20 November 2023 analyses how solicitors in England and Wales are adopting AI and the risks that follow. It is a risk analysis rather than a rule, taking a permissive stance while warning about hallucinated authorities, confidentiality of client data in public tools, and the need for firm-level controls.

Applies to: lawyers, firms
Effective: 20 Nov 2023
Current version: November 2023 (dated 20 November 2023) · 20 Nov 2023
Last verified: 05 Oct 2026
Official text: www.sra.org.uk/sra/research-publications/artificial-intelligence-legal…

What the document requires

Identifies inaccurate or fabricated output as a principal risk of generative AI in legal work.
Warns that entering client information into public AI tools may breach confidentiality duties.
Encourages firms to understand the tools they use and to set internal policies before adoption.
Frames AI as an opportunity for access to justice provided existing professional standards are met.

Version history

Version	Date	What changed	Source
November 2023 (dated 20 November 2023)current	2023-11-20	First version recorded.	official · archive

Related court incidents on the record

Harber v Commissioners for HMRC, [2023] UKFTT 1007 (TC)2023-12-04 Dismissal

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

Sources

SRA — Risk Outlook report on AI in the legal market

Cite this record

SafeLegalAI Legal AI Regulation Tracker, "Risk Outlook report: The use of artificial intelligence in the legal market" (Solicitors Regulation Authority, November 2023 (dated 20 November 2023), 2023-11-20), safelegalai.com/regulation/uk/sra-risk-outlook-ai-legal-market (accessed 2026-10-07). Data: CC BY 4.0.