Embracing AI in Jamaica's Legal Profession
A Call for Responsible Integration
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries across the globe, and the legal profession is no exception. From drafting documents and conducting legal research to summarizing case law and organizing case files, AI offers tools that can save time, increase accuracy, and boost overall productivity. Yet, here in Jamaica, our legal sector has traditionally been slow to embrace change. Whether it was the move to digital filing systems or the use of practice management software, the profession has always taken a cautious approach to innovation.
Now, with AI’s growing influence, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Do we resist and risk falling behind the rest of the world, or do we embrace it responsibly, using it to elevate the quality and efficiency of legal services across the island?
The benefits of AI are real. Tools like ChatGPT can help attorneys organize their thoughts, draft correspondence, structure arguments, and even search across specific sources for relevant case law or guidance.
For instance, ChatGPT has a “deep research” feature where a more extensive search is done, usually taking more than 10 minutes as opposed to the quick surface level search usually done and it allows users to ask for information from specific types of sources, be it court websites, legal journals, or newspapers, bringing everything together in one place. This does not eliminate the need for research, but rather helps streamline it. Still, it is the attorney’s job to verify that every authority cited and every fact presented is accurate and applicable.
Unfortunately, not everyone is using these tools responsibly. A recent incident in Trinidad and Tobago highlights just how dangerous AI or any unchecked online research can be when used carelessly. In the case Nexgen Pathology Services Ltd v Darceuil Duncan, attorneys submitted court filings that included fictitious case law. Justice Westmin James identified that several cases cited did not exist and referred the attorneys to the Law Association’s Disciplinary Committee. Though they denied using AI and attributed the mistake to a junior assistant’s poor research, the core issue remains: the failure to properly vet and verify information before relying on it in court. See link to news article regarding this.
Let us be clear, AI is not the villain here. Blaming the tool is like blaming a calculator for getting the wrong answer when you’ve keyed in the wrong numbers. Even something as simple as a Google search can produce inaccurate or misleading information if not used carefully. If the search query is vague or if the source isn’t reputable, the output can be just as damaging as any AI generated hallucination.
To prove the point about responsible use, this very article you’re reading was written by me with the help of an AI tool. I came up with the thoughts, points I wanted to convey, and the tone I wanted it to have. I gave it prompts, rewrote sections, searched for and included the real article from Trinidad and Tobago and ensured that the final product reflected my voice and message. How did the AI help? Well, instead of taking a couple of hours to sit and write this from scratch, I was able to complete it in under an hour, including finding the article, shaping my argument, and polishing the grammar and flow.
So what does this mean for us as Jamaican attorneys? It means AI can be a powerful ally if we treat it as a tool and not a shortcut. The legal profession is built on diligence, reasoning, and accountability. Those values don’t disappear because technology is evolving. They become even more important.
We need to begin seriously considering a framework for responsible AI use in legal practice, one that includes mandatory disclosure when AI is used in court filings, requirements for attorneys to verify all content, and ongoing training to understand the capabilities and limits of these tools. The General Legal Council and the Bar Association should take the lead in setting clear guidelines that encourage innovation without compromising professional standards.
At the end of the day, we should absolutely embrace AI in our legal practice, but do so with intention and care. Let it enhance, not replace, the critical thinking, ethical judgment, and human expertise that lie at the heart of good lawyering, because ultimately, it's not about the tool, it's about how we use it.
Contributed By: Ms. Drisell Morris, Associate Attorney
May 27, 2025
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.