Singapore’s Ministry of Law has released a draft Guide for Using Generative AI in the Legal Sector (open for public consultation from 1 to 30 September 2025) to promote the responsible, ethical deployment of generative AI (“GenAI”) within legal services. The Guide is non-binding but sets out core principles and good practices to help practitioners navigate the risks and opportunities of GenAI use.
The Guide begins by defining GenAI and distinguishing it from traditional AI systems, emphasizing that GenAI systems generate new content and are prone to “hallucinations” – i.e., plausible but incorrect or fabricated outputs. It then outlines three fundamental principles relevant to legal practice: professional ethics, confidentiality, and transparency. Legal professionals remain fully responsible for any work product, must ensure client confidentiality (especially when using third-party tools), and should consider disclosing to clients how GenAI is being used in their matter.
To help practices adopt GenAI safely, the Guide proposes a five-step implementation framework: (1) develop an AI adoption policy, (2) diagnose practice needs, (3) evaluate GenAI tools, (4) deploy and train users, and (5) conduct continuous review and improvement. The Guide also includes case studies of Singapore firms such as Clifford Chance and WongPartnership, illustrating how they embed governance, pilot programs, oversight mechanisms, and client communication in their AI adoption strategies.
Overall, this Guide seeks to balance innovation with professional responsibility, offering a blueprint for law firms and legal practitioners to adopt GenAI in ways that respect legal ethics, data protection, and client trust.