ICAM launches the first practical guide for the responsible use of AI

The Madrid Bar Association (ICAM) has published the Guide to Good Practices for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession, coordinated by Mabel Klimt, member of the Governing Board responsible for innovation, technology, and culture.

“The legal profession should not limit itself to adapting to change: it must lead it,” emphasizes ICAM Dean Eugenio Ribón. “With this guide, we offer the profession a practical and rigorous tool to take advantage of artificial intelligence without compromising the essential principles of the legal profession: confidentiality, professional judgment, and the defense of fundamental rights. Our commitment is clear: that digital transformation should not weaken the law, but rather strengthen it.”

Practical guide

The Guide puts into practice the recommendations of the new European and national regulatory framework on AI. From data protection and the explainability of algorithms to the need for continuous training and human supervision. Over six chapters, it offers a practical framework for incorporating artificial intelligence into legal work without compromising the essential principles of the profession.

“Use AI without fear, but with discretion: that is what this guide proposes,” says Klimt. “It is not a question of slowing down innovation, but of accompanying it with ethical criteria, clear tools, and legal guidelines that allow us to integrate this technology in a safe, transparent, and effective manner. We want every lawyer, regardless of the size of their firm or their level of technical knowledge, to have a practical framework that helps them make informed and responsible decisions.”

Without replacing lawyers

Its starting point is clear: “technology is a support tool, but it does not and should not replace the lawyer or their professional judgment. The legal profession must always maintain supervision, critical judgment, and enhanced diligence in the use of these tools,” states the guide, which was developed in collaboration with specialists such as Santiago Mediano (president of the ICAM section on Robotics, AI, and Virtual and Augmented Reality), Sara Molina and José Ramón Moratalla (co-presidents of the ICAM section on Innovation and the Legal Profession), Alejandro Touriño (president of the ICAM ICT Section), Jesús María Boccio, Agustín Born, Noemí Brito, Carlos Fernández, Javier Fernández-Lasquetty, Rodrigo González Ruíz, Antonio Muñoz Vico, María Pardo de Vera, Carolina Pina, and Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras.

Professional responsibility

The publication proposes that law firms adopt internal control protocols, define which technological solutions can be used, for what purposes and under what conditions, and designate supervisors to ensure human review of all relevant decisions. It also recommends regular audits and continuous updating processes to assess the technical and legal reliability of the systems, in line with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation and professional responsibility.

One of the most relevant sections focuses on respect for fundamental rights and the mitigation of bias, reminding us that artificial intelligence is not neutral: algorithms can amplify inequalities if the data used to train them is not audited. Therefore, the guide recommends verifying the fairness and quality of data, auditing models periodically, and promoting diversity in the teams that design or supervise these tools, as a safeguard against possible discrimination.

Responsible culture

The guide emphasizes that advances in artificial intelligence make technological competence a professional obligation. It proposes strengthening training and continuing education in law firms so that lawyers understand how the tools they use work, evaluate their reliability, and promote a culture of technological learning.

It recommends investing in technical training, conducting internal assessments and practical workshops, and creating interdisciplinary communities that bring together lawyers, technologists, data protection experts, and AI ethicists as a basis for safe and consistent integration with the values of the legal profession.

The text also highlights the importance of supervising external providers, reminding us that delegating technology does not mean delegating responsibility: law firms must ensure regulatory compliance, confidentiality, and human control of legal functions.

Glossary and regulatory calendar

A glossary of key artificial intelligence concepts and a timeline of the implementation deadlines for the European Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AI Act) complete the publication, which will be followed shortly by the ICAM Guide on Ethical Principles for the Use of Artificial Intelligence, currently in preparation. This second document will complement the current framework with a more in-depth reflection on ethics and professional responsibility in the digital age.

The guide can be downloaded free of charge from the ICAM website, in the new section on “Law and Artificial Intelligence,”.