Immigration lawyers warned over using AI

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

The Bar Standards Board has warned immigration lawyers about the risks of using AI tools like ChatGPT after cases revealed confidential information breaches and fabricated legal references generated by AI. This caution highlights the importance of maintaining client confidentiality and accuracy in legal work, with the BSB emphasizing strict professional responsibility and potential disciplinary action for misuse.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has issued a warning to immigration lawyers about the risks of using artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, following incidents where confidential legal materials were fed into AI systems. The regulator cited concerns over potential breaches of client confidentiality and the accuracy of legal documents generated with AI assistance.

This development comes after several cases revealed the use of AI in producing legal work, including an example involving Tahir Mohammed, an adviser at TMF Immigration Lawyers in Manchester. During a tribunal, Mohammed initially denied employing AI to draft legal documents but later admitted to having “inadvertently” used a Google AI chatbot for legal research. The tribunal found that fictitious cases had been referenced in documents he submitted, including one entirely fabricated and another cited incorrectly.

Investigators demonstrated that it was possible to prompt Google’s AI to provide details on the invented Horleston case, highlighting the potential for AI-generated inaccuracies. The BSB emphasized that barristers must exercise caution when engaging with AI technologies, especially given that uploading confidential documents to AI platforms could result in those materials being stored indefinitely or exploited for training AI models under the terms of service.

In its recent update to professional standards, the BSB cautioned against the use of AI tools without appropriate safeguards, underscoring that any misuse could lead to serious disciplinary repercussions. The regulatory body stressed that lawyers bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of their work, irrespective of digital assistance.

While AI offers potential efficiencies in legal research and drafting, the BSB’s guidance reflects heightened concerns about ethical obligations and compliance in sensitive legal contexts. The warning serves as a reminder that the unchecked use of AI in the legal profession may compromise client trust and the accuracy of legal proceedings.