Regulator warns supervisors over junior lawyers’ AI mistakes

The SRA has warned partners and other senior lawyers that they could face regulatory action over AI mistakes made by junior colleagues if they fail to properly supervise their work.

In a formal warning notice published on Monday, the regulator singled out lawyers responsible for supervising junior or non-authorised colleagues, saying they remain accountable for work carried out under their watch.

The warning comes as law firms rapidly roll out AI tools across their businesses, including to associates and trainees for tasks such as legal research, drafting and document review.

The SRA said it received 42 reports of potential AI misuse between July 2025 and July 2026, with a number of investigations ongoing.

Its biggest concerns are on two areas: AI hallucinations making their way into legal work and confidential client information being uploaded to AI tools without adequate safeguards.

AI hallucinations

The notice follows a series of cases where AI-generated errors have made their way into court documents, including one involving Pinsent Masons earlier this year, which the SRA specifically highlighted.

In that case, a junior solicitor at the firm used AI to research an insolvency matter, only for it to produce wording from a rule that did not exist. The false material subsequently made its way into court correspondence.

The mistake was not picked up by more senior lawyers reviewing the work. The court criticised the supervising senior associate and matter partner and ultimately publicly admonished Pinsent Masons, with the firm also referring the matter to the SRA.

The SRA warned that putting false material before a court could potentially amount to contempt of court.

Client confidentiality

The SRA also warned lawyers to think carefully before putting client information into AI tools.

The regulator said firms should ensure client data is kept in a secure environment, cannot be accessed by unauthorised parties and is not used to train AI models unless explicitly authorised and appropriate.

Putting confidential client information into AI tools without appropriate safeguards could breach confidentiality and potentially result in legal privilege being permanently lost, it warned.

What they said

SRA executive director Aileen Armstrong said that while AI is bringing benefits for consumers and lawyers, it does not change the standards expected of the profession.

“Individuals remain responsible for the work they produce and the advice they provide, regardless of whether AI is used, or not,” she said.

The Law Society welcomed the warning. Vice president Brett Dixon said AI should “support and enhance legal practice” rather than replace solicitors' role in providing trusted advice.

“As a regulated profession, solicitors have the responsibility to act in the best interests of their client, which includes using AI and other technologies responsibly,” he said.

Dixon added that as AI evolves, the SRA would need to continue providing “swift and clear guidance” so solicitors can use the technology with confidence.