A recent decision of the High Court of Justice of Galicia imposed a €1,800 fine on a lawyer who submitted a pleading containing non-existent case-law references and inaccurate judicial quotations generated through an artificial intelligence tool without proper verification.
The decision does not condemn the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice. Rather, it highlights that AI can be an extremely useful supporting tool, but it cannot replace a lawyer’s personal work, professional judgment, and responsibility for the content submitted before a court.
As legal professionals, we can—and should—make use of the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, subject to one essential requirement: every piece of information, statutory reference, and judicial decision must be carefully checked and cross-referenced against reliable legal databases and official sources.
Technology can help us work more efficiently. However, ultimate responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of our legal work will always remain with us.