KUALA LUMPUR: Legal practitioners, especially young practitioners, are reminded not to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) based large language model-based chatbot such as ChatGPT for finding instant answers in preparing their legal brief.
The Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said while it was very tempting to employ AI tools, lawyers must exercise caution and not rely on them entirely.
"Always fact-check and verify the correctness of your submissions," he said.
Abang Iskandar said this in his opening address at the Malaysia Legal Forum 2023 held at the Asian International Arbitration Centre here today, organised by Thomson Reuters.
Present was Thomson Reuters Malaysia's country head Girish Kamat and the forum organising chairman S. Saravana Kumar.
Abang Iskandar said it becomes all the more important to use reliable research tools and databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and CLJ among others for their research of the court's judgments.
In his speech, Abang Iskandar also emphasised the importance of having the correct understanding and comprehension of the law especially when one appears before the court, arguing on the state of law.
"When you cite a case authority, it is crucial that you ensure that the case is still good law, it not having been overturned or overruled.
"Unless the court itself is aware of the adverse party highlighting to the court the correct position, we, as judges in the adversarial system would certainly rely upon the legal arguments and authorities put forward by counsel, in good faith.
"Unless of course, the contended proposition of the law is so patently and unsustainable; ipso facto (by the fact itself)."
Meanwhile, the one-day forum comprised seven sessions, covering topics namely insolvency, intellectual property, corporate fraud, employment, mergers and acquisitions, construction and tax.