In November 2024, several NSW courts released a practice note addressing the use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI). Recently, the NSW Court introduced a new Practice Note on Generative AI, effective 12 February 2025.
This guidance clarifies the permissible use of AI in court proceedings while addressing its potential risks associated with its use in the NSW legal system.
Key Takeaways from the Guidelines
Permitted Uses
AI may assist with administrative tasks like summarising documents, generating chronologies, and drafting legal submissions, provided all citations and legal references are verified.
Prohibited Uses
AI cannot be used for drafting affidavits, expert reports, witness statements, or confidential/suppressed material unless explicit court approval is obtained. Any AI-generated case law, legislation, or references must be manually verified — AI cannot be relied upon alone. AI must not draft expert reports unless prior leave of the Court is obtained, and it must be disclosed in the report. Affidavits, witness statements, and character references should contain and reflect a person's own knowledge, not AI-generated content.
Risks Identified
The Court warns against:
- AI hallucinations — false citations and fabricated case references
- Data privacy breaches — any data entered may be stored and used to train the AI model, potentially exposing confidential information
- Biased outputs — reinforcing the responsibility of legal professionals to ensure accuracy and ethical compliance
This marks a significant step in balancing AI innovation with legal integrity in NSW court proceedings. Stay informed as the guidelines evolve.
You can access the LEC practice note via the NSW Land and Environment Court website.