An international law firm, Hill Dickinson, has implemented restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools among its staff due to a “significant increase in usage” detected within the company. This decision reflects the growing concerns around the responsible use of AI technologies in legal practices, especially in a firm with more than a thousand employees spread across the UK. The firm communicated this development to its staff through an email from a senior director, emphasizing the need for compliance with their established AI policy to ensure that the tools are used correctly and securely.
The law firm reported that the surge in AI usage was largely inconsistent with its usage policy. Consequently, it has decided to restrict access to these tools, allowing employees to engage with AI only through a formal request process. This approach is aimed at curbing unauthorized activities while still recognizing the potential benefits of AI in enhancing the firm’s capabilities. As part of this policy shift, requests for access to AI tools are being monitored and evaluated, with some already receiving approval under the new guidelines.
In light of this policy, a spokesperson from the Information Commissioner’s Office, which oversees data protection in the UK, commented that discouraging the use of AI is not the solution. They underlined that organizations should facilitate the proper utilization of AI without forcing employees to seek out these technologies covertly. The emphasis was placed on aligning AI tools with both corporate policies and legal obligations concerning data protection.
In the email that triggered these changes, Hill Dickinson’s chief technology officer revealed some striking statistics: in just one week, there were over 32,000 accesses to the popular chatbot ChatGPT, and more than 3,000 visits to the Chinese AI service DeepSeek, which is currently under scrutiny due to security issues. The report also indicated nearly 50,000 hits on Grammarly, a writing assistance platform. However, the email did not disclose specific details about individual user activity, leaving some ambiguity about how many employees engaged with the tools and how frequently they did so.
Further comments made by the firm stress that they are committed to safely and responsibly advancing the use of AI in their operations. Hill Dickinson aims to establish a framework that promotes efficient practices while safeguarding client information and ensuring compliance with legal standards. Their AI policy explicitly prohibits the sharing of client data and mandates that staff verify the accuracy of AI-generated content before using it.
The legal professional landscape in the UK is witnessing a palpable shift as firms increasingly consider implementing new technologies. There are, however, underlying concerns regarding the digital competencies of legal practitioners, as voiced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They warned that a lack of understanding of AI could pose risks to both firms and consumers. A recent survey conducted by Clio revealed that a significant 62% of solicitors in the UK expect an uptick in AI utilization over the coming year, particularly for tasks like document drafting and legal research.
The UK government has recognized the transformative potential of AI for the workforce, with a spokesperson from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology describing it as a “technological leap.” The government asserts that it is committed to developing legislation that will allow the potential of AI to be harnessed safely and effectively, promising to engage the public in consultations to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this rapidly evolving field.
In summary, Hill Dickinson’s proactive stance on AI usage encapsulates a broader movement within the legal sector to adapt to new technologies while ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and safeguarding client confidentiality. The carefully measured approach they are taking reflects a keen awareness of the balance that must be struck between innovation and risk management in the modern legal landscape.