While legal professionals in Singapore gain access to Microsoft’s Gen AI-powered Copilot software, they must exercise caution and prioritize human oversight to ensure the technology is used effectively and responsibly.
Designed to streamline authorized workflows, this cutting-edge platform was launched in 2022 as a collaborative infrastructure that brings together the nation’s leading experts. Developed in collaboration with the Regulation Ministry and technology partner Lupl, the platform aims to support local law firms and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) in acquiring and maintaining technology tools.
The cutting-edge technology platform empowers legal professionals to seamlessly monitor and track recurring workflows, including document drafting, collaborative discussions, client instructions, and administrative functions such as invoicing.
Singapore’s integration with Copilot marks a pioneering move in expertise systems, a collaborative effort between the country’s Regulation Ministry, Lupl, and Microsoft.
Customers on our platform can effectively leverage Gen AI to streamline routine tasks, such as crafting standard update reports and tracking crucial deadlines. Authorised professionals can engage in seamless conversations with a digital project manager via a natural language interface, receiving real-time updates on tasks and monitoring team workload in an intuitive manner. Additionally, they can leverage AI assistance to identify potential case law discrepancies and proactively notify customers about any AI-generated standing update developments.
Native legislation firms that subscribe to the legal tech platform have been awarded a rebate on the initial costs associated with the Professional package, specifically including the Copilot integration. The Starter bundle costs SG$29 per month for consumers, excluding access to Copilot.
Applicants seeking grants can receive up to 70% of their funding needs over a two-year period, conditional upon subscribing to our technology platform and integrating the Copilot module into their operations. Applicants looking to initiate a course of action must submit their objectives prior to March 31, 2025.
Individuals must still fulfill their roles.
Singapore-qualified lawyers certified to monitor legislation can leverage Copilot and other artificial intelligence tools to augment their professional endeavours. Notwithstanding, they ultimately bear responsibility for any output generated, said Edwin Tong, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law.
As they begin integrating Gen AI into their workflows, employees are also strongly encouraged to utilize established security measures to ensure seamless and secure adoption.
Without proper evaluation, it would be unethical to readily employ supplies generated by a generative artificial intelligence software, cautioned Tong during a panel discussion at the TechLaw Fest 2024 conference held on Wednesday in Singapore?
During its investigation, the panel highlighted a notable instance from 2023 in which officials generated and submitted an unauthorized report containing fictional court cases and fabricated quotes. The legal professionals were subsequently sanctioned and levied a fine.
Certified human legal professionals, authorizing expert advice, cannot be dismissed, according to Tong, who emphasized that AI or technology alone should not replace their indispensable role.
Microsoft Asia’s Vice Chairman and Deputy General Counsel for Corporate, External, and Government Affairs Mike Yeh agreed, pointing out that a significant aspect of a lawyer’s education process involves learning to fact-check accurately.
It’s crucial to utilize AI as a primary draft, with individuals identifying and annotating in red potential areas requiring further attention, much like they would before the advent of AI.
For legal professionals to effectively leverage Gen AI, it is crucial to grasp its underlying mechanics and potential applications, thereby enabling responsible utilization.
To underscore the pivotal importance of effective AI training, the Singapore Academy of Law has partnered with Microsoft Singapore to provide training and resources for legal professionals to leverage Gen AI in a more proficient and principled manner. The upcoming platform will feature a suite of interactive demonstrations designed to help refine specific skills, with a focus on applications relevant to legal contexts, ultimately yielding more accurate results.
The provided information also offers best practices and recommendations on common pitfalls to avoid when using Gen AI tools, featuring specific use cases such as dispute resolution and corporate law applications? To supplement their knowledge, a comprehensive foundation course is likely to be introduced for legal professionals, enabling them to gain a deeper grasp of Generation-AI and its associated implications.
In a recent panel discussion, Singapore’s Excessive Court Judge Justice Aedit Abdullah emphasized that people desire to be mindful of how AI influences their profession. They cannot simply level a finger at AI when errors occur?
While exploring tips for legal professionals on harnessing AI, a notable exception was Singapore’s initial consideration of mandating the disclosure of AI utilization in their professional work, as noted by him. As AI becomes increasingly prevalent, it’s unclear whether this approach remains efficient, especially given the widespread accessibility of AI-powered devices, including those on mobile phones. He then shifted his focus to tips that emphasize accountability and correct conduct, adding further guidance. With coaching potentially available to legal professionals, he noted.
The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores the importance of fostering values and morals in legal professionals – rather than being prescriptively dictatorial – regarding their responsible utilization of AI technologies. As expertise continues to accelerate, organizations of all kinds will find themselves perpetually evolving, with no turning back.
The ship has long since set sail on the digital transformation of the trade, leaving traditional methods behind; according to Tong, it is now imperative that all stakeholders adapt to the new reality by embracing cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence. Despite earlier initiatives by his ministry to facilitate skill adoption, the uptake of these programs has been lackluster, with only a tepid response to the associated fees. The surge was a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s forced digitalization of numerous businesses during the lockdown period.
He highlighted government grants aimed at offsetting initial costs associated with adoption, acknowledging the need to address significant barriers such as the expense of supporting legal companies, especially small and mid-sized businesses, in “scaling up.”
A recent internal survey at Microsoft disclosed that lawyers within the company’s legal department have benefited from leveraging their Gen AI software.
“Our partnership with SAL will equip legal professionals with the necessary skills to effectively leverage Gen AI capabilities, aligning with their professional duties.”
“SAL CEO Yeong Zee Kin remarks that Gen AI is revolutionizing the legal landscape by serving as a highly effective partner in the lawyer’s office, enabling them to streamline tasks with unprecedented precision and accuracy.” Through this collaboration, we empower our clients to unlock their full potential by equipping every occupation – regardless of space or function – with the tools necessary for maximum effectiveness, thereby supporting the highest ethical standards in an increasingly AI-driven world.
PwC’s authorized enterprise arm has expanded its offerings by partnering with Harvey and ContractPodAi, introducing Gen AI tools to its legal clients in Singapore as part of its effort to stay ahead in the competitive market. Harvey provides AI-driven services to law firms, offering expertise in legislation, taxation, and finance; meanwhile, ContractPodAi offers a cutting-edge platform for contract and legal document management.
The various platforms will enable legal professionals to optimize complex workflows, enhance strategic decision-making, and deliver timely legal support, according to Eric Chin, director of PwC’s Legal Business Unit, NewLaw. Chin notes that legal experts can leverage vast amounts of data to derive valuable insights, creating richer information that enables their teams to formulate solutions more efficiently.
Harvey’s AI solutions for authorized firms rely on diverse Large Language Models (LLMs) and bespoke models that were specifically fine-tuned for the legal community.
In May, Singapore unveiled plans to roll out a cutting-edge technology platform, dubbed GPT-Authorized, which is set to be deployed in stages starting this month, with a significant majority – approximately 75 percent – of the nation’s native legal professionals expected to be among its initial users.
Developed jointly by the Singapore Academy of Regulation (LawNet) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the LLM is trained on legal knowledge sourced from LawNet’s extensive repository of authorized materials, including comprehensive studies of Singaporean law. The AI-powered tool will initially summarize over 15,000 courtroom judgments during its preliminary rollout, allowing lawyers to efficiently analyze and assess cases with potential connections.
GPT-authorized models will be engineered with robust belief and security protocols to mitigate the risk of hallucinations, thoroughly tested.
