18 June 2025
Our Correspondent | June 2025
Following a series of alarming occurrences concerning the misuse of artificial intelligence tools in court procedures, the UK's High Court delivered a stern rebuke to legal professionals.
In recent weeks, senior judges learned that some legal teams had submitted documents containing falsified case law created by AI programs. In one high-profile claim for approximately £90 million against Qatar National Bank, it was discovered that 18 of the 45 listed cases were wholly fabricated.
In a second occurrence, the Haringey Law Centre filed a claim in court that included five nonexistent legal precedents. As a result, the law firm and its barrister received financial penalties.
Dame Victoria Sharp, President of the King's Bench Division, presided over the proceedings and stated unequivocally: "AI tools can produce polished but wholly misleading outcomes. Lawyers must thoroughly check all references before presenting them to the court.
Real risks, serious consequences.
Legal experts caution that submitting false case law, whether intended or owing to over-reliance on AI, might have catastrophic implications, including:
● Contempt of Court Proceedings
● Regulatory investigation.
● Criminal charges, such as perverting the course of justice, could result in a life sentence.
In response, both the Law Society and senior judiciary officials emphasized that AI should supplement, not replace, due diligence and human oversight in legal practice.
A Global Issue.
The UK is not alone in confronting these difficulties. Similar cases of AI hallucination—in which technologies such as ChatGPT produce plausible-sounding but false facts—have disturbed courtrooms in Denmark, the United States, and elsewhere.
As AI continues to transform sectors, the legal profession faces a choice: embrace innovation with prudence or jeopardize the integrity of justice.
