By Manisha Sahu, America News World
September 19, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly reshaping the legal landscape in Singapore, where law firms of all sizes are experimenting with generative AI tools to enhance efficiency. From drafting initial submissions to summarising lengthy case documents, AI is increasingly seen as a powerful assistant. Yet, lawyers are quick to stress one critical point: human oversight remains essential, as responsibility for accuracy ultimately rests with the lawyer who signs off.
The shift comes as the Singapore judiciary itself takes the lead in technological innovation, having introduced AI tools in the Small Claims Tribunal. A year earlier, in October 2024, the courts issued guidelines on AI use in legal practice, paving the way for firms to adopt the technology more systematically.
A New Era of Legal Workflows
Large law firms are leading the charge, adopting sector-specific AI platforms like HarveyAI, designed for legal drafting and research, and Microsoft Copilot, which automates administrative tasks. These tools are used for a variety of functions: generating chronologies of events, drafting submissions, translating documents, and even brainstorming alternative legal arguments.
At Rajah & Tann Singapore, one of the country’s largest practices, dispute resolution head Adrian Wong said the firm relies on Harvey for drafting and knowledge management. “Harvey is also used as a knowhow repository for our in-house template pleadings and precedents, enabling our disputes lawyers to efficiently locate and retrieve relevant materials,” he explained. The firm also uses RelativityOne, an AI-powered e-discovery tool, for analyzing large datasets in litigation.
Lawyers and support staff at Rajah & Tann complement these efforts with Microsoft Copilot, particularly for drafting meeting notes, summarising project updates, and adjusting the tone of client communications.
Early Adopters and Expanding Partnerships
WongPartnership, another major player, has been investing in AI since 2017. Managing partner Chou Sean Yu noted that the firm was the first in Singapore to deploy natural language processing for contract review and e-discovery using the platform Luminance. More recently, WongPartnership became one of the earliest Southeast Asian adopters of Harvey.
“Automating routine tasks allows our lawyers to achieve better work-life balance and focus on higher-value strategic work,” Mr. Chou said. “AI enhances efficiency but complements rather than replaces the personalised attention that clients depend on.”
Drew & Napier, home to 350 lawyers, has also rolled out AI across its workforce. All its lawyers now have access to Copilot, while a selected group uses Harvey for more complex disputes. Rakesh Kirpalani, the firm’s chief technology officer, described Harvey as particularly effective when working with vast document sets. “The lawyer can then narrow down timeframes and keywords before performing a manual review,” he said, underscoring AI’s role as an assistant rather than a replacement.
At Withers KhattarWong, more than 60 percent of lawyers are using Copilot, while department-specific tools such as LegalScape and LexRoom are being piloted for research and drafting. Litigation head Pardeep Khosa said the firm’s phased approach ensures efficiency without compromising professional judgment.
Smaller Firms Testing the Waters
Boutique law firms are also experimenting with AI, albeit more cautiously. At Han & Lu Law Chambers, partner Bozy Lu said her firm uses Copilot for administrative tasks like tabulating medical invoices for personal injury claims. The firm recently tested Google’s Gemini to draft legal submissions in road traffic accident cases, with results “comparable to a first-year associate’s drafts.”
Similarly, Tang Thomas, a new boutique practice, is exploring AI in both backend operations and legal drafting. Partner Simran Toor emphasised that adoption must be intentional, particularly given concerns around legal privilege and confidentiality.
Beyond Law Firms: Prosecutors and Mediators Step In
The adoption of AI is not limited to private practice. Prosecutors at Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) are using AI-powered image recognition to handle sensitive evidence, such as classifying digital child sexual abuse material. Solicitor-General Daphne Hong said this reduces the time spent sifting through thousands of files while maintaining human accountability.
At the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC), mediators are using a custom-built AI assistant called MAIA. Launched in 2024 and recently upgraded to MAIA 2.0, the tool helps mediators digest tens of thousands of pages of documents in just days. Feedback has been strong, with one mediator calling the tool “shockingly accurate” and others reporting preparation time reduced by up to 30 percent.
Opportunities and Risks
Despite widespread enthusiasm, lawyers remain cautious about over-reliance on AI. Risks include “hallucinations,” where AI generates plausible but inaccurate outputs, and potential breaches of client confidentiality.
“AI is undeniably powerful, but its limitations are equally real,” said Withers’ Mr. Khosa. “Responsible adoption requires a clear boundary between operational support and professional judgment.”
Ms. Lu from Han & Lu described her relationship with AI as “love-hate,” noting that poorly crafted prompts often produce flawed results. She warned that polished AI drafts could lead to complacency if not checked thoroughly: “If lawyers make submissions based on unchecked AI work, that becomes inherently dangerous in court.”
Firms are therefore embedding safeguards, from internal policies on responsible AI use to client transparency. At Rajah & Tann, Mr. Wong stressed that clients can opt out of AI use entirely, while Drew & Napier ensures all AI outputs are independently verified.
Looking Ahead
Singapore’s legal sector is already planning for the next stage: agentic AI systems capable of automating multi-step workflows with minimal human input. Rajah & Tann aims to embed AI into compliance frameworks and tailor it to its internal precedent libraries. Withers is exploring AI-enabled client interfaces, while Tang Thomas is considering AI-driven client education tools.
The vision, according to industry leaders, is not about replacing lawyers but about raising the standard of service. “Ultimately, the goal is to elevate the quality of the service we provide and be better professionals,” said Mr. Khosa.
For now, AI remains a junior assistant in Singapore’s legal sector—powerful, promising, but always subject to the final signature of a human lawyer.8
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