Artificial Intelligence (AI) – including Generative AI (GenAI) and other tools based on machine learning and large language models – is already reshaping legal practice. A wide range of AI tools are now available, including tools designed or adapted specifically for lawyers and legal services.
AI opportunities and challenges
AI tools offer a significant opportunity to transform legal service delivery and expand access to quality legal help across the community. At the same time, they create risks that lawyers must manage to protect clients’ interests and ensure their use of AI is safe, responsible and consistent with their professional obligations.
AI doesn’t replace a lawyer’s professional skill and judgement, but it can support legal practice across the lifecycle of a matter – including intake and triage, legal research and drafting, routine administrative tasks, client communications, and making online legal information more accessible.
We know the legal profession faces pressures such as heavy workloads, long hours and increasing cost pressures for both practices and clients. Used well, AI can help reduce administrative burden, save time on routine tasks, and support more sustainable ways of working. These benefits may be strengthened by law practices also considering broader changes to workflows, business models and approaches to pricing.
Client expectations around AI
Clients are also increasingly arriving with AI-generated information, some of which is inaccurate and requires correction. Some clients may also expect law practices to use technology to deliver services more efficiently, reduce costs and manage matters more effectively.
Lawyers should be mindful that clients have a legitimate interest in understanding when AI is being used in their matter, and in some circumstances may expect to have a say in if and how it's used.
Understanding and adopting AI
It is up to each law practice to decide whether and how it adopts AI. As the regulator of the Victorian legal profession, we encourage all lawyers to build their understanding of AI.
Your colleagues and clients may already be using these technologies, and AI is being built into the systems, software and devices used across legal practice.
Understanding how AI works, where it can help, and where caution is needed is now an important part of competent legal practice.
Law practices can strengthen the benefits of AI by considering broader changes to workflows, business models and pricing.
AI resources
We encourage you to build your understanding of AI now, so you can make informed decisions about how these tools may support your practice and build your capability to use it safely and responsibly. Used appropriately, AI can help lawyers work more effectively while maintaining high-quality, accessible legal services for clients.
VLSB+C resources
The following resources are for all Victorian lawyers but are designed especially for lawyers in small practices and sole practitioners who may not have access to specialist AI and technology expertise. They explain common ways AI can be used in legal practice and the steps needed to use it ethically and responsibly.
- AI for lawyers: ways to use AI in legal practice: A practical guide that outlines how AI can be used in everyday legal work, with tips for using it ethically and responsibly.
- AI checklist for law practice leaders and principals: a checklist to help law practice leaders and principals prepare their practice for safe and responsible AI use.
- AI checklist for lawyers: a checklist to help all lawyers use AI responsibly in their day-to-day work and meet their professional obligations.
- Statement on the use of artificial intelligence in Australian legal practice: a joint statement with the Law Society of New South Wales and the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia that outlines our expectations when lawyers use AI tools to assist them in their legal work.
Other resources
- Law Library Victoria is a great place to learn more about AI in the law.
- The Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee has resources on effectively managing AI risks.
- Law Institute of Victoria’s AI hub provides practitioners with resources and best-practice guidance
- Victorian Bar’s Guidance on the Ethical Use of Generative AI assists barristers with responsible use of AI tools.
- The Legal Services Research Centre has data and insights on the uptake and use of AI in the Victorian legal sector.