In the news
AI paralegal sails through SQE1
Lawrence the artificial intelligence (AI) paralegal has passed the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) stage one assessment with ‘flying colours’. Lawrence achieved a mark of 74%, which would be enough to comfortably pass the SQE1. SQE1 tests a candidate’s functioning legal knowledge and topics range from property to probate.
Lawhive, which provides direct access to solicitors via an online platform, developed Lawrence. Although achieving an impressive score, it said the AI paralegal struggled in some areas. These included complex chains of logic and wider context and where concepts shared similarities, such as public and private nuisance.
It also tested Lawrence’s competence in client care in a separate activity and compared the AI’s skills with a human solicitor. Both received positive feedback, although Lawrence did get some criticism for a perceived lack of empathy.
Stronger, better, faster – how firms can accelerate their tech use
Law and accountancy firms have been invited to take part in a £1.8m accelerator project to explore how they can make better use of technology and AI.
Technology in Professional Services (TiPS) is led by Lancaster University Management School (LUMS), working with Oxford Brookes University and consultants Hyperscale Group Limit. Its focus is to help professional services firms use tech to become more productive and develop new services.
TiPS has three different streams, each with its own group of firms. Each stream’s focus depends on the level of the firms’ use and adoption of tech. The first stream concerns firms that have had minimal experience of tech; the second is for those ready to take on new tech and apply it; the third is for firms experienced in tech and who are looking to develop its use. The project aims to accelerate participating firms’ use and adoption of tech within a matter of months.
Professor Martin Spring from LUMS is the lead researcher on the project. He said: ‘Financial and professional service sectors provide around 2.2 million jobs and contribute around £190bn to the UK economy – but research has shown that digital and AI technologies could unlock even more value within these UK professions.'
Regulator looks at pros and cons of AI in law firms
Firms looking to use AI could benefit from completing administrative tasks more efficiently, freeing up staff time and reducing costs. The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) Risk Outlook publication on AI also highlighted the risks – such as accuracy and bias problems, client confidentiality and weakened accountability.
Paul Philip, SRA Chief Executive, said: 'It is difficult to predict how quickly AI will change the legal sector, but increasingly we won’t be able to ignore its impacts.
'So far it has mainly been larger firms using AI. However, with such technology becoming increasingly accessible, all firms can take advantage of its potential. There are opportunities to work more efficiently and effectively. This could ultimately help the public access legal services in different and more affordable ways.’
Paul Philip, SRA Chief Executive
Bletchley Declaration brings together global community
The first-ever global gathering on AI saw 28 countries, including the US, UK, China and EU, sign the Bletchley Declaration at the UK’s AI summit in Bletchley Park, last month.
The declaration sets out that signatories: ‘recognise that this is… a unique moment to act and affirm the need for the safe development of AI and for the transformative opportunities of AI to be used for good and for all, in an inclusive manner in our countries and globally.’
Countries also agreed on risks such as cybersecurity and biotechnology and realised that: ‘there is potential for serious, even catastrophic, harm, either deliberate or unintentional, stemming from the most significant capabilities of these AI models.’
The international summit will be held in South Korea in six months’ time and again in France next year.
