Hong Kong Bar Association urges AI legal guidelines

Mao Lok-lai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, has called for the establishment of guidelines regarding the use of artificial intelligence in legal documentation to protect judicial efficiency. Following participation in international legal conferences in London and Copenhagen, Mao noted a global trend where self-represented litigants are increasingly using AI to draft legal submissions.

This trend has led to a significant increase in the length and complexity of court documents. Mao warned that the use of AI could result in the inclusion of fabricated case law or factual inaccuracies, placing an immense burden on courts during the review process. He expressed concern that without regulation, a “meaningless competition” could emerge where opposing self-represented parties use AI to generate increasingly voluminous and excessive submissions, such as hundreds of pages citing thousands of cases, which would ultimately hinder the fairness and speed of the judicial system.