The Dangers of DIY Law

The widespread use of the internet has meant that information has never been more readily available.

Apps have made accessing information even easier, with additional functionality built into many allowing us to manage our lives from our phones.

Added to this is the recent explosion in Artificial Intelligence. With AI we are witnessing some incredible breakthroughs in functionality. This will potentially change the way we work and interact with each other and external bodies.

Surely this technology revolution will help us when it comes to drafting legal documents or carrying out various legal processes?

The answer to this question is not as straight forward as you might expect.

Individual Matters Require Individual Solutions

The needs of individuals are typically unique to them. Whether it be drafting of wishes in a lasting power of attorney or a will, or managing a separation or divorce, circumstances client to client are different.

This can have a major influence on legal drafting and the most appropriate courses of action.

We have seen an increase in clients coming to us after attempting a form of DIY law based on limited knowledge, some technological input and then ……getting into something of a legal muddle.

Undoing things can be unnecessarily costly, financially and in some instances, emotionally.

Data Protection    

There are data protection issues that should not be ignored. Legal matters are often intensely sensitive and personal.

Sharing information through a search engine, through tracking cookies or AI can mean that deeply personal data is not adequately protected.

This could lead people open to a simple loss of privacy or dangerous sharing of sensitive information or worse still, cybercrime.

Hallucination and Inherent Bias

This is where technology can create false legal precedents, imaginary cases or general false information.

It can also suffer from an inherent bias – accidental or real – built into its make up. There is of course fake information online some of which is difficult to identify.

Given the risk posed by the above AI error is normally seen as being an issue for the user not the AI provider.  

Although technology has aided both clients and lawyers the need for experienced oversight and drafting remains.

A simple search on Google included this pragmatic response from its own AI.

The primary risks of using AI in drafting legal documents include the generation of inaccurate or false information (hallucinations), the potential for breaches of client confidentiality and data security, and the lack of human judgment needed to tailor documents to specific, nuanced contexts.

Wise words indeed.