Launch of Guide for Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Sector

1.       The Ministry of Law (“MinLaw”) launched the Guide for Using Generative Artificial Intelligence (“GenAI”) in the Legal Sector (the “Guide”), at “The Next Charter: Shaping Singapore’s Legal Future Together” on 6 March 2026. The launch followed a public consultation conducted in September 2025. The Guide may be accessed here.

2.        As part of MinLaw’s broader efforts to support the legal sector’s transformation and digitalisation, the Guide promotes the safe and responsible use of GenAI across the legal services sector. It sets out three key principles to guide the use of GenAI in legal work:

(1)     Professional Ethics: Legal professionals remain ultimately responsible for all work products. They must exercise the requisite knowledge, skill and professional judgment.

(2)    Confidentiality: Users must safeguard client data and confidentiality, and remain mindful of the risks associated with different GenAI models, including how data may be processed and stored.

(3)    Transparency: Legal professionals should consider informing clients of the use of GenAI, particularly where its use is substantial in producing legal work, impacts cost of legal services, or involves data‑handling practices that may not align with clients’ requirements.

3.       Beyond these principles, the Guide provides practical guidance on implementing GenAI tools in legal practice. It also includes case studies from law practices of varying sizes and in‑house legal teams, illustrating how GenAI has been deployed safely and effectively to support their work, such as for legal research, enhancing drafting quality, and strengthening knowledge management, while upholding professional standards.

4.       MinLaw developed the Guide in close consultation with stakeholders across the legal sector and refined it following the public consultation conducted from 1 to 30 September 2025. Drawing on feedback received from over 20 local and international stakeholders, including law practices, in-house counsel, legaltech providers and consultants, academia, and industry bodies, the Guide has been enhanced to address real-world practice needs and to better support adoption across diverse operating contexts, including smaller law practices and in‑house legal teams.

5.       MinLaw will continue to engage stakeholders and update the Guide as necessary to reflect technological developments, evolving best practices, and the needs of the legal sector.

MINISTRY OF LAW

6 MARCH 2026