Lawyers in Singapore can now access Microsoft artificial intelligence reproduction (Gen AI) tool Copilot, but are reminded of the importance of human oversight even as they adopt technology.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 has been integrated with the country’s legal technology platform, which is set to launch in 2022 as a collaborative infrastructure designed to support legal workflows and include a range of legal technology tools. Co-developed by the Ministry of Law and technology partner Lupl, the platform aims to help local law firms and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) procure and maintain technology tools.
This technology platform allows lawyers to view and track common workflows, such as document drafts, team discussions, client instructions, and administrative functions like billing.
Its integration with Copilot is one of the first integrations involving industry specific technology systems in Singapore, according to a declare Published by the Ministry of Law, Lupl and Microsoft.
Platform users can use Gen AI to automate certain tasks, such as drafting status updates and tracking deadlines. For example, legal professionals can communicate via a natural language interface with a virtual legal project manager to receive real-time updates on tasks and track their team’s workload. They can also scope case issues with AI assistance and notify clients of AI-generated status updates.
Local law firms have also been granted a rebate for the initial costs of signing up for the legal tech platform, Tagged at S$59 (US$45.21) per user per month for the Pro plan, Copilot integration is included. The Starter plan costs S$29 per user per month but does not include access to Copilot.
Also: Data Shows Next-Generation AI Boosts Software Productivity — For These Developers
Applicants can receive up to 70% funding for two years when they sign up for the Copilot technology platform and modules. Those interested should apply by March 31, 2025.
Humans still need to play their part
Lawyers who are qualified to practice law in Singapore can use Copilot and any AI tools to assist in their work. However, they will be ultimately responsible for any work done, said Edwin Tong, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law.
They are also reminded to apply common sense safeguards when starting to apply Gen AI to their work.
Also: Sony Research AI Unit to Help Develop Large Language Models with AI Singapore
It would be unethical to simply use documents generated by Gen AI tools without proper oversight, Tong said during a panel discussion at the TechLaw Fest 2024 conference held in Singapore on Wednesday.
The council pointed to the infamous 2023 case in which New York Attorneys Used ChatGPT for creating and filing a legal brief that included citations to non-existent court cases, along with forged citations. The lawyers were subsequently sanctioned and fined.
Also: Early adopters are deploying AI agents in the enterprise now, with widespread adoption by 2025
Qualified lawyers are the ones providing legal advice and cannot be taken out of the equation, Tong said, warning against relying solely on AI or technology to do the job.
Panelist Mike Yeh, vice president and general counsel of Microsoft Asia, agreed, noting that part of a lawyer’s education is knowing how to fact-check.
Also: Finding the path to success as organizations bring AI into the workplace
Yeh recommends using AI as a first draft, while humans will red-flag any parts that need further review, just as they did before without AI.
He added that understanding how Gen AI works and how to use it more effectively is important so that lawyers can use it responsibly.
Further underscoring the importance of proper AI training, the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) has signed a partnership with Microsoft Singapore this week to provide training and resources for legal professionals to use AI Gen more effectively and ethically. The first to be launched is tutorial on large language model (LLM) prompting techniqueIncludes demonstration videos to help practice skills specific to legal contexts and produce more relevant results.
The guide also provides best practices and advice on common pitfalls when using Gen AI tools, with specific use cases such as dispute resolution and corporate law. Additionally, a primer course will be provided to help lawyers gain a deeper understanding of Gen AI, including relevant information. ethical issues.
Also: Transparency is sorely lacking amid growing interest in AI
People need to be aware of what they are doing and how AI impacts their jobs, Singapore High Court Justice Aedit Abdullah said during a panel discussion. They cannot just blame AI when things go wrong.
While exploring what guidelines Singapore could provide lawyers on the use of AI, it initially considered requiring them to disclose the use of AI in their work, he said. However, this may not be effective as AI becomes more pervasive and even available on mobile devices. The focus has since shifted to guidelines that emphasize accountability, moralityand proper conduct, he added. This could be done through training for lawyers, he added.
The Supreme Court justice further emphasized the importance of instilling values and ethics in legal professionals — rather than imposing them — about their responsible use of AI. Furthermore, there is no turning back, as the technology will continue to benefit all organizations.
Tong said the ship has sailed for the industry to remain rooted in analog technology, urging the legal community to embrace technology and AI. Noting that his ministry had launched programs a few years ago to facilitate the adoption of technology, he said the uptake of such programs had been modest. The surge only came during the Covid-19 lockdown, which forced many organizations to go digital.
Also: New global standard aims to build security around large language models
He pointed to government grants aimed at covering some of the initial costs of adoption, while also recognising the need to address key barriers such as the cost of helping law firms, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, “upscale capacity”.
Microsoft’s internal probe shows company lawyers won’t 32% on work efficiency and 20% on accuracy from using Gen AI software.
“Our partnership with SAL will empower lawyers with the skills needed to use Gen AI solutions in line with their professional obligations,” Yeh added.
“Gen AI is transforming the legal landscape by becoming an effective partner in the law firm, helping them automate tasks with precision and accuracy we have never seen before,” said Yeong Zee Kin, CEO of SAL. “This partnership connects that potential to end users so we can equip the entire profession — regardless of practice area — with the tools they need to be effective and help maintain the highest ethical standards in an increasingly AI-driven world.”
Also: Security Guide Provides Essential First Layer of Data Protection in the AI Gold Rush
Global consulting firm PwC also announced a partnership with Harvey and ContractPodAi at the conference, as part of its legal business’s efforts to provide AI tools to legal clients in Singapore. Harvey provides AI-powered professional services in law, tax and finance, while ContractPodAi provides a legal document and contract management platform.
Both platforms will enable lawyers to streamline legal processes, improve decision-making and provide legal support, said Eric Chin, director of PwC’s legal business unit, NewLaw. “Lawyers will be able to generate insights and draft recommendations based on large volumes of data, providing richer information that helps their legal teams identify solutions faster,” Chin said.
Harvey’s AI models for legal services are built on multiple LLMs and custom models that the company says have been fine-tuned for the legal community.
Also: Early adopters are deploying AI agents in the enterprise now, with widespread adoption by 2025
In May, Singapore announced plans to develop a LLM is trained in forensic data — is called GPT-Legal and is expected to roll out in phases starting this month with 75% of local lawyers as users.
Developed jointly by the Singapore Academy of Law (LawNet) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), LLM is trained on legal data from the academy’s existing legal content repository, including Singapore law reports. It will be used to summarize more than 15,000 court decisions in its initial rollout — giving lawyers the ability to conduct research and evaluate more potentially relevant cases.
GPT-Legal will also be designed with reliability and safety features to manage potential hallucinations and be assessed by assessment tool.
