Singapore Ministry of Law issues guide for using generative AI in the legal sector

Key Aspects of the Guide

1. Emphasis on Professional Responsibility and Human Oversight

A central theme of the Guide is that the use of GenAI does not diminish legal professionals’ existing ethical and professional obligations. Lawyers and other users remain responsible for the accuracy, quality, and integrity of their work, regardless of whether GenAI tools are used.

The Guide emphasises the need for meaningful human oversight, including reviewing and validating GenAI-generated outputs before reliance or dissemination. This is particularly important in light of known risks associated with GenAI, such as hallucinations, outdated information, and embedded biases.

2. Confidentiality and Privilege Considerations

The Guide highlights the importance of safeguarding client confidentiality and legal privilege when using GenAI tools. Users are encouraged to carefully consider whether inputting sensitive or confidential information into GenAI systems could result in unintended disclosure or use.

Where third-party tools are used, legal professionals should assess the provider’s data handling practices, including whether inputs may be retained, reused, or disclosed. Appropriate contractual and technical safeguards should be put in place to mitigate these risks.

3. Accuracy, Reliability, and Verification of Outputs

Given the probabilistic nature of GenAI systems, the Guide underscores that outputs should not be treated as authoritative without verification. Legal professionals are expected to independently verify legal citations, factual assertions, and analytical conclusions generated by AI tools.

The Guide also cautions against over-reliance on GenAI in high-stakes or complex legal matters, stressing that professional judgment remains paramount.

4. Transparency and Disclosure

The Guide encourages transparency in the use of GenAI, particularly where its use may be material to clients, courts, or other stakeholders. This may include disclosing the use of AI tools in the preparation of legal documents or advice where appropriate.

Transparency is framed not only as a matter of trust and professional integrity but also as part of broader accountability in AI use.

5. Risk Management and Governance

Organisations are encouraged to implement internal policies and governance frameworks governing the use of GenAI in legal work. This includes establishing clear guidelines on permissible use cases, approval processes, and risk assessment procedures.

The Guide also highlights the importance of training and awareness to ensure that users understand both the capabilities and limitations of GenAI systems.

6. Responsible Development and Procurement of GenAI Tools

For organisations developing or procuring GenAI tools, the Guide sets out expectations around due diligence, including assessing model performance, bias risks, and data protection safeguards.

It also encourages alignment with broader AI governance frameworks in Singapore, ensuring that systems are designed and deployed in a responsible and trustworthy manner.

7. Broad Applicability Across the Legal Ecosystem

The Guide applies to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including not only lawyers in private practice and in-house roles, but also allied legal professionals, legal technologists, alternative legal service providers, and GenAI tool developers.

This reflects MinLaw’s recognition that the adoption of GenAI in legal work extends beyond traditional legal practice and requires a whole‑of‑ecosystem approach.

Conclusion

The publication of the Guide reflects Singapore's continued efforts to promote the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence through sector-specific governance initiatives. While the Guide is not legally binding, it provides an important reference point for legal professionals, organisations, and technology providers seeking to integrate GenAI into legal work while maintaining professional standards and managing associated risks.

As GenAI adoption across the legal sector continues to accelerate, organisations should review their existing governance frameworks, policies, procurement processes, and training programmes to ensure that the use of GenAI remains aligned with professional obligations, confidentiality requirements, and broader regulatory expectations.

For further guidance on the implications of the Guide and the responsible deployment of GenAI within legal services, please reach out to the authors of this alert or your usual Hogan Lovells contact.

Authored by Charmian Aw, Khushaal Ved, Nicole Lim, and Ciara O'Leary.