Technology is advancing rapidly, and AI is evolving at an even faster pace. As it progresses, so will the ways we utilize it, the legal frameworks in which it operates, and our attitudes as users.
In June 2023, the FBE New Technologies Commission published guidelines entitled ‘European Lawyers in the Era of ChatGPT: Guidelines on How Lawyers Should Take Advantage of the Opportunities Offered by Large Language Models and Generative AI.’ These guidelines provided seven principles to ensure the ethical use of generative AI tools in law firms (link).
Today, I am pleased to announce that these guidelines have been updated and expanded. Below, you will find a link to the new document in English, which provides nine guidelines for the safe and ethical use of generative AI by lawyers:
- Acknowledge the limitations of GenAI in legal practice
- Adhere to existing rules on AI use
- Consider the use of GenAI by others
- Complement legal expertise
- Maintain attorney-client privilege
- Ensure data protection
- Guarantee (external and internal) transparency
- Consider the impact on intellectual property
- Use GenAI with awareness of its environmental impact
I invite you to read, analyze, and implement these guidelines as part of your professional activities. If you’re interested in discussing the guidelines further, participating in practical workshops on their implementation in law firm practice, or collaborating with the FBE New Technologies Commission on the use of AI by lawyers, please feel free to contact us.
Maria Dymitruk
President of the FBE New Technologies Commission
