Canada | Regulatory Framework
Status:
Effective: N/A
moderate LSO white paper: licensee use of generative artificial intelligence (Ontario)
Law Society of Ontario White Paper — Licensee Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence
I. Regulatory Summary
Drives internal governance for Ontario legal practices using GenAI: written policies, tool due diligence, confidentiality controls, mandatory output verification, and training to maintain technological competence. Also highlights client-facing and reputational risks, shaping decisions on whether and when to disclose GenAI use to clients.
II. Full Description
**Document type**: White paper providing guidance to Ontario “licensees” (lawyers and paralegals).
**Date**: The cover states April 2024; the day is not specified (the record uses 2024‑04‑01 as a placeholder per month-only dating convention).
**Content overview**
- Explains generative AI and large language models and common use cases (research, marketing, editing, summarisation, drafting).
- Identifies risks: confidentiality leakage, hallucinations/inaccurate information, bias, client-relationship issues, and inadvertent legal advice.
- Maps risks and recommended practices to professional conduct requirements (competence, confidentiality, supervision, fees, discrimination/harassment).
- Notes court practice directions/notices may impose proactive filing obligations; encourages licensees to confirm court-specific requirements.
- Discusses factors for disclosing GenAI usage to clients and potential regulatory issues with GenAI tools delivering legal services directly to the public.
**Source file**: CA - 20240401 - white-paper-on-licensee-use-of-generative-artificial-intelligence-en.pdf
III. Scope & Application
Non-binding white paper providing an overview of generative AI and practical guidance for Ontario licensees (lawyers and paralegals) on how professional conduct obligations apply when using generative AI in delivering legal services. Identifies key risks (confidentiality, hallucinations/inaccuracy, bias, client relationship issues, and unintended provision of legal advice) and recommends best practices on competence, confidentiality, supervision, billing, human-rights compliance, and disclosure to clients.
IV. Policy Impact Assessment
Drives internal governance for Ontario legal practices using GenAI: written policies, tool due diligence, confidentiality controls, mandatory output verification, and training to maintain technological competence. Also highlights client-facing and reputational risks, shaping decisions on whether and when to disclose GenAI use to clients.
Primary Focus: legal profession generative ai guidance