Law firm imposes AI restrictions after ‘substantial’ staff usage
An international law firm has restricted general access to several artificial intelligence (AI) tools after noticing a “significant increase in usage” by its staff.
In an email obtained by the BBC, a senior director at Hill Dickinson, which employs over a thousand people in the UK, informed staff about the rise in AI tool usage. The firm explained that much of this activity did not align with its AI policy. Going forward, employees will only be able to access AI tools through a request process.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator, advised against discouraging AI use in the workplace. A spokesperson told the BBC: “AI offers people numerous ways to work more efficiently and effectively. The solution is not for companies to ban AI and push staff to use it secretly. Instead, organizations should provide AI tools that align with their policies and data protection requirements.”
According to the email, Hill Dickinson’s chief technology officer revealed that over a seven-day period in January and February, the firm recorded more than 32,000 hits to the widely used ChatGPT chatbot. Additionally, there were over 3,000 hits to the Chinese AI service DeepSeek, which has been banned from Australian government devices due to security concerns. The firm also logged nearly 50,000 hits to the Grammarly writing assistance tool.
However, it’s unclear how many individuals were involved in the hits or how frequently they accessed the services, as multiple hits could come from a single user.
Hill Dickinson’s email stated: “We’ve been monitoring the usage of AI tools, particularly publicly available generative AI solutions, and have noticed a significant increase in their use and the uploading of files to such tools.”
The firm emphasized that it aims to “positively embrace” AI to enhance capabilities, while ensuring safe and appropriate usage for both staff and clients. Hill Dickinson reiterated that its AI policy prohibits the uploading of client data and mandates that staff verify the accuracy of large language model responses to ensure security and effectiveness.
To control access, the firm has introduced a request-based system for AI tool usage, with some requests already being approved.
Ian Jeffery, CEO of the Law Society of England and Wales, acknowledged that AI could greatly improve legal work, but stressed that AI tools require human oversight. The Law Society is committed to supporting legal professionals and the public as they navigate AI’s potential in ensuring fair and accessible justice.
A representative from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) warned about the lack of digital skills across the UK’s legal sector, which could pose risks for firms and clients if technology is not fully understood. A recent survey by legal software provider Clio found that 62% of UK solicitors expect AI usage to increase in the next year, particularly for tasks like document drafting, contract analysis, and legal research.
A spokesperson from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology described AI as a “technological leap” that could free workers from repetitive tasks and create more meaningful opportunities. The government is preparing legislation to safely unlock the benefits of AI, with a public consultation to follow.
About The Author
