At Spurling Legal, we are committed to delivering efficient and high-quality legal services. As part of this commitment, we utilise artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to assist with certain legal tasks, such as document review, legal research, contract analysis, due diligence, and drafting.
By engaging our firm, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
Use of AI Technologies
We employ various AI tools to support our solicitors in delivering services. These include:
- Technology-Assisted Review (TAR): Used for large-scale document analysis during disclosure phases, with proven reliability.
- Generative AI tools: Used in limited contexts under strict human oversight (e.g., drafting assistance).
We ensure that such tools are applied in a manner that supports, but does not replace, professional legal judgment.
Human Oversight and Accountability
All work generated or assisted by AI tools is reviewed, edited, and approved by qualified solicitors. Spurling Legal maintains full professional responsibility for all advice and services provided to clients, regardless of whether AI tools were involved.
We are committed to maintaining obligations of accuracy, completeness, and candour in all documents prepared with AI assistance.
Client Confidentiality and Data Protection
We take reasonable steps to protect client confidentiality when using AI tools, including:
- Selecting vendors with robust security practices and confidentiality commitments.
- Avoiding the input of sensitive or privileged information into third-party AI tools unless anonymized or processed in secure, enterprise-grade environments (e.g., tools with no data retention or training use).
- Using internal or local AI solutions where necessary to ensure client data remains secure.
Despite these measures, some third-party AI systems may retain or process data in accordance with their terms of service. We carefully evaluate and limit what information is shared externally.
AI Limitations and Risk Awareness
AI technologies can assist with efficiency, but they are not infallible. Outputs may:
- Be outdated, based on older training data.
- Be incomplete, failing to address all arguments or issues.
- Be inaccurate or incorrect, requiring expert legal judgment.
- Be jurisdictionally inapplicable, due to differences in legal systems.
- Contain biases, reflecting limitations in training data.
We mitigate these risks through professional review processes and by limiting AI use to appropriate contexts.
Client Choice and Opt-Out Rights
If you prefer that we limit or avoid the use of certain AI tools in handling your matters, you may notify us in writing. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your preferences. Please note this may affect timelines or costs.
Disclosure in Legal Proceedings
Where required or appropriate (e.g., under court rules), we will disclose the use of AI tools in the preparation of documents submitted to courts or third parties. Our solicitors remain fully responsible for all submissions, including those assisted by AI.
Use in Witness Statements and Affidavits
We exercise particular caution when using AI tools in connection with affidavits, witness statements, or expert reports. These documents will always:
- Reflect the genuine knowledge and testimony of the witness.
- Be drafted or reviewed directly by a solicitor.
- Comply with all relevant Expert Witness Codes of Conduct when applicable.
Court-Specific AI Guidelines
We comply with all court-specific or jurisdictional rules regarding AI usage. Courts may have different requirements for disclosure or limitations on AI-assisted drafting, and we adapt our approach accordingly.
Website Usage and Legal Agreement
By accessing and using the Spurling Legal website and services, you acknowledge and agree that:
- You have had sufficient opportunity to read and understand this policy.
- You understand how Spurling Legal uses AI tools in its legal services.
- You are legally permitted to agree to these terms.
- Your engagement with our firm constitutes consent to the use of AI technologies as described.
If you do not agree, please contact us to discuss alternative arrangements or refrain from engaging our services.
Policy Updates
This policy may be updated periodically as AI technology and legal regulations evolve. The latest version will be made available on our website and upon request.
Glossary
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Technologies designed to simulate or replicate human-like cognitive functions, such as analysis and text generation.
- Generative AI: AI systems that can produce new content, such as text or images, based on user input.
- Machine Learning (ML): AI techniques that improve automatically through data analysis and experience.
- Large Language Models (LLMs): AI systems trained on vast amounts of text to understand and generate human language.
- Training Data: The datasets used to build AI models; the quality and scope of this data influence AI output.
- Model: The structure of rules and information generated from training data, used by AI to make decisions or predictions.
- Technology-Assisted Review (TAR): A machine learning technique for reviewing large volumes of documents by classifying them based on relevance after initial human input.