Hello Chat GPT, can you write some legal submissions for me?

The most fashionable word this month in tech is not “goblin mode” (the 2022 Word of the Year in the Oxford Dictionary). Making a grand entrance to the tech world is a “predator” called Chat GPT. In a Sunday Times article written by Danny Fortson, this new fellow is described as follows:

‍“Like a lion stalking its prey, Chat GPT is able to silently observe and learn from the vast amount of information available online, gaining knowledge and understanding of a wide range of topics…[It]is a formidable force to be reckoned with, and it will continue to prowl the digital landscape…”

Except those were not the words of the author of the article. What Fortson did was to type the command,            

“Compare the emergence of Chat GPT to a lion in the Serengeti in the style of David Attenborough.”

and Chat GPT wrote the rest instantaneously.

I thought why not put Chat GPT to the test and ask it to write some legal submissions. So I earnestly started my conversation with my new friend requesting its help in writing some legal submissions. I received the following reply:

“I'm sorry, but I am not able to provide legal advice or write legal submissions for you. I am a large language model trained by OpenAl and do not have the expertise or knowledge to provide such services. I can provide general information on a wide range of topics, but I am not qualified to give legal advice or represent you in any legal matters. It's always best to consult with a qualified legal professional for such matters”.

Well, how about giving me some guidance on what to say to the judge then?

“As a large language model trained by OpenAl, I do not have the knowledge or expertise to provide legal advice or represent you in any legal matters. I am not able to give specific suggestions for what you should say to a judge in your case. It's important to remember that each legal case is unique, and it's always best to consult with a qualified legal professional who can provide specific advice based on the details of your case. It's important to be truthful and honest when speaking with a judge, and to present the facts of your case in a clear and concise manner. A qualified legal professional can help you prepare for your hearing and provide guidance on what to say to the judge in your case”.

As someone who refuses to work as a lawyer, Chat GPT talks very much like one.

I pressed on with questions on negligence and the concept of a reasonable man. My friend had this to say:

“Negligence is a legal concept that refers to the failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would exercise in a similar situation... In order for a person to be found negligent, the following elements must be present:

1. The defendant had a duty of care to the plaintiff

2. The defendant breached that duty of care by acting as a reasonable person would have in the same situation…”

“a reasonable person is a legal concept that refers to an ordinary and prudent person who exercises the level of care and caution that would be expected in a given situation... The standard of a reasonable person is an objective one, and it is based on the actions that a hypothetical person with average knowledge, skill, and judgment would have taken in the same situation... This standard is used to determine whether the defendant's actions fell below the level of care and caution that would be expected of a reasonable person in the same situation”.

In a few seconds, you have a standard textbook answer without having to pull out the book and turn to the right pages. Undoubtedly Chat GPT will have an important role to play in the legal industry. The race is on to see who will be the first to launch a legal tech product with it, and when.

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