An international law firm has restricted access to several artificial intelligence (AI) tools after discovering a “significant increase in usage” by its employees.
In an internal email, seen by media sources, a senior director at Hill Dickinson, which employs over a thousand staff in the UK, warned employees about their use of AI tools. The firm stated that much of this usage did not align with its AI policy and, moving forward, employees would only be allowed access through a formal request process.
A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection watchdog, advised against discouraging AI use entirely. The spokesperson remarked: “With AI offering countless ways for people to work more efficiently and effectively, the solution is not for organisations to outlaw its use and push employees to access it covertly.
“Instead, companies should provide AI tools that comply with their policies and data protection responsibilities.”
Extensive AI usage detected
Hill Dickinson’s chief technology officer reported in the email that, over a seven-day period in January and February, the firm detected over 32,000 interactions with the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. During the same period, there were more than 3,000 interactions with the Chinese AI service DeepSeek, which was recently prohibited on Australian government devices due to security concerns.
Additionally, the email highlighted nearly 50,000 interactions with Grammarly, the widely used writing assistance tool.
It remains unclear how many individual employees accessed these tools, as multiple interactions could have been generated per user session.
The internal email stated: “We have been monitoring usage of AI tools, particularly publicly available generative AI solutions, and have noticed a significant increase in usage of, and uploading of files to, such tools.”
Encouraging responsible AI adoption
Hill Dickinson, which has offices across England and abroad, later clarified its stance: “Like many law firms, we aim to positively embrace the use of AI tools to enhance our capabilities while always ensuring safe and proper use for our employees and clients.”
The firm underscored that its AI policy, which prohibits the uploading of client data and requires employees to verify AI-generated content, ensures that usage “remains safe, secure and effective.”
Moving forward, Hill Dickinson will grant access to AI tools solely via a request process. It is understood that some employees have already submitted requests and received approval.
Industry-wide implications
A spokesperson from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which regulates solicitors in England and Wales, highlighted the risks of insufficient digital skills within the legal sector. “Despite the increased interest in new technology, there remains a lack of digital proficiency across all sectors in the UK.
“This could pose a risk for firms and consumers if legal practitioners do not fully understand the new technology that is implemented.”
A recent survey conducted by legal software provider Clio in September found that 62% of UK solicitors anticipated an increase in AI adoption over the next year. The survey revealed that law firms across the country were already using AI for tasks such as drafting legal documents, contract analysis, and legal research.
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Government perspective on AI integration
A spokesperson from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology described AI as a “technological leap” that will “free workers from repetitive tasks and unlock more rewarding opportunities.”
The department reaffirmed its commitment to enacting legislation that ensures AI’s benefits are realised safely. “We are engaging widely and will launch a public consultation in due course to ensure our approach effectively addresses this fast-evolving technology.”
As AI continues to reshape industries, law firms such as Hill Dickinson are seeking to strike a balance between harnessing its benefits and mitigating associated risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while maintaining efficiency and security.
