24/06/2026

Artificial intelligence growth presents opportunities across all sectors but also significant challenges and the legal profession is not exempt.

As an employment lawyer, I’m increasingly being presented with AI generated contracts that I’m asked to ‘cast an eye’ over or handed ChatGPT’s view on the prospects of an employment tribunal claim from a client hopeful that I can deliver the predicted outcome. People now even put their settlement agreement through AI before sending it to me.

Artificial Intelligence appears to provide an almost instant solution to even the most complex legal problems. However, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

All too often the information that I see produced by AI is factually incorrect.

In one case, ChatGPT informed an employee that they had a cast iron disability discrimination claim worth £100,000. Yet when I reviewed the details, there was no case to answer and no prospect of success.

The truth is AI tells you want it thinks you want to hear. It is too keen to please you with its answer, resulting in responses frequently being far removed from reality. The answer will also change if the question is asked again or slightly reworded.

It’s not just clients that fall foul of artificial intelligence though. There have been several examples where solicitors have ruined their client’s case by relying on AI-generated caselaw that simply didn’t exist.

In the Rahman immigration appeal case last year a self-employed barrister was found to have cited a fictitious Court of Appeal authority generated by Chat GPT. The Upper Tribunal concluded that he had misused AI and referred him to the Bar Standards Board.

AI will doubtless continue to develop and improve over time and all professions will need to adapt to incorporate the positive benefits that it can bring to their work.

However, at the moment I would caution against relying on AI for legal advice, as it can be extremely inaccurate and misleading.

For advice on any employment law matter, whether you are an employer or an employee, don’t hesitate to contact our employment team on 01782 205000 or by emailing enquiry@beswicks.com.