Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence and Other Technologies

Bar Standards Board

last revised 2026-05-18last verified 2026-09-031 versioncountry page →

GuidanceIn forceVerification dutyDisclosureConfidentialityCompetence

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

Regulatory guidance from the Bar Standards Board, valid from 18 May 2026, on how the Core Duties apply when barristers in England and Wales use AI. It requires verification of output before use, transparency with clients under rC19 where AI materially affects the service, and treats free public tools as generally unsuitable for legal work.

Applies to: barristers
Effective: 18 May 2026
Current version: May 2026 · 18 May 2026
Last verified: 03 Sept 2026
Official text: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/static/5e1baa5c-614c-4105-afae9a9ccdf8d97…

What the document requires

Reads AI use into Core Duties CD1, CD2, CD3, CD6, CD7 and CD10.
Barristers must verify AI output before relying on it or presenting it to a court.
Where AI materially impacts the service provided, clients must be informed under rC19.
Free consumer tools are generally unsuitable for confidential legal work.

Version history

Version	Date	What changed	Source
May 2026current	2026-05-18	First version recorded.	official

Related court incidents on the record

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

Bar Standards Board — AI guidance (May 2026 PDF)

Cite this record

SafeLegalAI Legal AI Regulation Tracker, "Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence and Other Technologies" (Bar Standards Board, May 2026, 2026-05-18), safelegalai.com/regulation/uk/uk-bsb-ai-guidance (accessed 2026-09-04). Data: CC BY 4.0.