Japan Compiles New Guidelines on AI Use in Legal Biz

Tokyo, Aug. 21 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Justice Ministry on Friday released new guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in legal businesses, clarifying the scope of services that do not fall under the unauthorized practice of law.

According to the guidelines, the use of AI to support literature research, document preparation, whistleblowing investigations, business restructuring and shareholders' meetings will not violate the attorney law in principle, provided that the AI model is not designed for use in disputes such as lawsuits and does not have features or functions for such use, and that there are measures in place to prevent inappropriate use.

Examples of these measures include the establishment of inquiry and reporting channels and lawyer supervision of AI services.

The guidelines also stipulate that they will be reviewed as AI technology advances.

To further promote the use of AI in legal businesses, the ministry plans to set up a panel of legal and AI experts, judges, lawyers, business representatives and consumer protection specialists by next March to draw up related rules in fiscal 2027. The rules will be introduced as early as fiscal 2028.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]