Singapore's Ministry of Law has published a comprehensive <a href="https://www.mlaw.gov.sg/launch-of-guide-for-using-generative-artificial-intelligence-in-the-legal-sector/" target="_blank" class="news-text_link">guide</a> on the use of generative AI (“<span class="news-text_medium">GenAI</span>”) in legal practice, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing effort to support the transformation and digitalisation of its legal services sector.
The Guide for Using Generative AI in the Legal Sector, published on 6 March 2026, follows a public consultation carried out in September 2025. Whilst non-binding in nature, the guide is intended for use by anyone handling legal work in Singapore and is designed to promote the safe and responsible adoption of GenAI, with due regard for the professional duties and standards that practitioners are expected to uphold. The Guide also builds on the IMDA and AI Verify Foundation’s Model AI Governance Framework for GenAI and complements the Singapore Courts’ Guide on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by Court Users.
The guide serves a dual purpose: it provides a reference point both for the deployment and use of GenAI in carrying out legal work and the development of GenAI tools for legal work, whether for an organisation’s own use or for use by others.
At its core, the guide is underpinned by three guiding principles, professional ethics, confidentiality and transparency, which together form the ethical and professional foundation for GenAI use in legal practice:
The guide also provides practical examples of how AI, including GenAI, is already being applied in legal practice, alongside key considerations and concrete safeguards. These illustrations are intended to demonstrate that, whilst GenAI presents considerable opportunities to enhance legal workflows and improve efficiency, professional duties must remain paramount.
To assist organisations and legal professionals in adopting GenAI in a structured and considered manner, the Guide sets out a practical implementation framework, drawing on industry experience and emerging best practices. The suggested steps are as follows:
The annexes provide further illustrations of the key principles in practice and include practical materials such as sample internal GenAI governance clauses and templates, example implementation approaches, and evaluation considerations for GenAI tools used in legal work.
The Guide is intended to address real-world practice needs and to broaden GenAI adoption across a diverse range of legal settings, whether within smaller law firms or in-house legal teams. By offering accessible, practical guidance rooted in professional responsibility, the Ministry of Law seeks to equip Singapore's legal services sector with a usable framework for the responsible adoption of GenAI.
