Quebec Bar urges caution when using artificial intelligence

Quebec Bar urges caution when using artificial intelligence

The Quebec Bar says that machines will never replace humans.

The bar association is urging caution when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence.

The president of the Quebec Bar, Catherine Claveau, is warning the public “against the shortcuts we might be tempted to take by using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, which cannot replace real support from a legal professional.”

“The main mission of the Quebec Bar is to protect the public. There are ethical and professional conduct issues surrounding the legal profession that are not covered by a machine. We must be wary. It can never be a pure legal opinion,” she said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

The bar has just launched a national advertising campaign to raise awareness of the risks.

“There are tools available to everyone that give you the impression that you don’t need to go any further because they provide an answer to your question. The message we want to convey is that the answer you get is not entirely adapted to your context, since the data is depersonalized. There are nuances that cannot be provided by software,” says Claveau.

She emphasizes that “the stakes are high because it can go as far as a loss of rights.”

There are also potential confidentiality issues, she points out. “If you deal with a lawyer, all your confidential personal data will be kept. If you give confidential personal information to the machine, you don’t know how far it can go. There is a risk of misplacement and lack of protection. So you have to be careful before using this software.”

“We encourage it, we don’t prohibit it”

However, these tools can be an interesting starting point for the uninitiated.

“The number one tip is to say: if you have a starting point, start with that and call a lawyer to continue the analysis with you. Don’t rely on that alone because you could end up in a complicated situation.”

Claveau reminds us that, unlike AI tools, lawyers are accountable.

“If, for example, a lawyer makes a mistake, there is professional liability insurance that ensures that if it causes you problems or damages, you will be able to obtain compensation, which is not the case if the loss of rights comes from a machine.”

Despite these reservations, the Bar does not demonize AI. On the contrary. After reflection, the order ruled that the technology can be useful.

“When we started talking about the arrival of artificial intelligence a few years ago, we were proactive, we asked ourselves whether we should be for or against it. We quickly realized that we couldn’t be against it. Artificial intelligence is now part of our practices. We encourage it, we don’t prohibit it.”

To supervise legal professionals, the Bar created a guide to best practices on this subject last November. The document will be subject to change as technology advances.

“Obviously, we will continue to stay on the lookout because it evolves quickly. We will improve the guide over time to properly supervise this phenomenon,” says the Quebec Bar Association President.

The bar also hired a lawyer specializing in the field to help “develop both our position as a professional order and our orientation.”

Not a panacea

Many of the approximately 30,500 members use AI. And for good reason: technology saves time, above all.

Claveau gives the example of documentary research, which often requires going through a large volume of doctrine, that is, all the works that explain and interpret the law.

“We often base ourselves on precedents in case law on the doctrine. There are very serious companies, like CanLII, that develop increasingly sophisticated research software and that increasingly use artificial intelligence. Cross-referencing certain data can really save us a lot of time rather than spending hours in the library.”

She also mentions legal preparation.

“When we have to prepare interrogations, cross-examinations or a pleading plan, we can give data to the machine, which will help us structure our thinking. In terms of form, we can save a lot of time.”

Here Claveau says, caution is also required.

“I reiterate that a human must always go over the machine to see if the proposed model really fits the client’s situation. We must continue to analyze, consult our colleagues, work as a team and validate ourselves.”

Claveau insists on the fact that “it is not a panacea.”

“These are tools to facilitate and lighten our work, but we must remain vigilant, we must use them sparingly.”

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews

link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *