European Union
Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
Ethics Opinions & Guidance
CCBE Recommendations on AI in Legal Practice
2023 Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession
The CCBE issued recommendations for European lawyers on the use of AI, emphasizing GDPR compliance, professional secrecy, and human oversight.
Read full opinionKey Requirements for AI Use
- EU AI Act compliance — AI tools must meet risk classification requirements
- GDPR compliance — mandatory for all AI tools processing client personal data
- Professional secrecy — equivalent of attorney-client privilege must be maintained
- Human oversight — AI must remain under meaningful human control
- Data residency — client data may need to remain within the EU
Important Notes
The EU AI Act categorizes many legal AI tools as high-risk, requiring conformity assessments. GDPR is strictly enforced for any AI tool processing personal data.