Five Common Misconceptions About AI in Legal Practice
From ‘AI writes the advice’ to ‘confidentiality is impossible’, let’s separate hype from reality for UK firms.
AI is moving fast — and myths move even faster. Here are five misconceptions we hear most often, and what firms can do instead.
1) “AI writes my legal advice.”
AI can help with structure, issue-spotting and first-draft thinking, but judgment remains human. Treat outputs as scaffolding; the advice is yours.
2) “If we use AI, we can’t protect confidentiality.”
Not true. You can use private models, restrict data flows, and rely on a mix of contractual (DPAs), organisational and technical controls. The key is data-minimisation and a clear policy.
3) “AI will replace junior lawyers.”
Firms that thrive use AI to amplify junior work — faster triage, better quality control — while investing in supervision and training on rationale.
4) “It’s all or nothing.”
Start small: pick a narrow workflow (for example, standard NDAs), define success metrics (turnaround time, variance, quality), and expand from there.
5) “We can bill AI time like fee-earner hours.”
Be transparent. Bill for expertise and supervision, not machine cycles. Clients value outcomes; clear pricing builds trust.
A simple adoption plan
- Choose one process
- Write a one-page AI use policy (scope, data handling, review)
- Run a 4-week pilot with defined metrics
- Review, train, and scale
OrdoLux provides templates, checklists and audit trails that make this manageable without redesigning your whole practice.
General information for practitioners — not legal advice.
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