New research from The Legal Director reveals that 50% of UK adults would use AI for legal matters and 56% would rely on it to read or interpret contracts. Men are more likely to turn to AI as their “instant solicitor”, with 55% saying they would use it for legal guidance compared to 47% of women. Gen Z lead the pack, with over 60% saying they’d rely on AI for legal guidance, while trust steadily drops with age – just 39% of over 75s would consider it.

But behind the convenience lies a cautionary tale. Kiley Tan, lawyer at The Legal Director, says: “AI may seem like a clever workaround for expensive legal fees, but large language models aren’t fit for purpose when it comes to law. They’re not trained on verified legal content and don’t understand legal context. The results might look convincing but can be wildly inaccurate – and in law, close isn’t good enough.”

The Legal Director provides lawyers who work within businesses, offering flexible, strategic legal support for companies of all sizes. And they have seen first-hand the blunders that come from AI-generated legal advice. One employee grievance letter cited irrelevant US case law for a UK employment dispute. Another contract drafted by ChatGPT included prices in dollars and clauses based entirely on US law, leaving the agreement unenforceable. In one striking case, an employee issued a claim in the wrong court following ChatGPT’s advice, leading to their £10,000 claim being struck out – and leaving them out of time to reissue.

Sarah Clark, Chief Revenue Officer at The Legal Director, says: “AI is brilliant for admin tasks, scheduling and sorting data. But when it comes to complex areas like law, it can’t replace human knowledge, skill and judgement. It’s not just about getting an answer – it’s about understanding the context, consequences and details.”

This AI appreciation day, The Legal Director is reminding the public that while AI is a powerful tool, it still needs a human touch to keep people protected.

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.