Aipedia: Conveyancers and property lawyers

Telling property clients you use AI

Aipedia, by the Apex broking team · Last reviewed 2026-10-27

Conveyancers should tell clients in plain English which AI tools are used on their matter, what data they process and how humans oversee them. Clear disclosure supports CLC and SRA expectations and makes complaints and claims easier to answer.

Part of: AI in Conveyancers and property lawyers

In short

The CLC AI and Technology Guidance asks practices to explain, in plain English, what technology they use and what personal data it processes (Principle 4), and to describe human oversight and give clients a route to raise concerns (Principle 5). Client data should not be used to train AI without consent. For solicitor conveyancers, the SRA has said firms should tell clients when AI will be used and how it operates. The client care letter, privacy notice and portal terms are the natural places to do this, with specific consent sought for any training use.

Why disclosure matters in conveyancing

Conveyancing clients hand over passports, bank statements, mortgage offers and details of their family finances. Many will assume a person reads their file. If AI tools read title documents, analyse statements, verify ID or answer questions through a portal, clients have a reasonable interest in knowing. The Legal Services Board's research of 11 June 2026 found consumers want accuracy, informed consent, human oversight, redress and data safety from AI legal tools.

Disclosure also protects the firm. A client who was told how AI is used, and what checks a person makes, is less likely to feel misled if something goes wrong.

What the CLC expects

The CLC's AI and Technology Guidance is voluntary, but it may count in mitigation. Its relevant prompts are:

Principle 4, transparency: explain in plain English what technology is in use, particularly automated decisions such as profiling or risk scoring; the benefits for clients; and what personal data is used, how long it is kept and who it is shared with.
Principle 5, explainability: describe the level of human oversight and give clients clear and easily accessible routes to raise concerns, including about the practice's use of technology.
Principle 9, accountability: be transparent about technology use, including in billing.
Consent: the guidance treats using client data to train an AI system without the client's consent as a harm to avoid.

See the CLC guidance explained for all eleven Principles.

What the SRA expects of solicitor conveyancers

The SRA's 2023 Risk Outlook on AI said firms should tell clients when AI will be used in their case and how it operates. The Misuse of AI warning notice of 17 August 2026 adds that client information should go into AI only with contractual, technical and organisational safeguards, should not be used for training unless explicitly authorised and should not be kept longer than necessary. Code 6.3 (confidentiality) and 1.4 (not misleading clients) apply. See AI, confidentiality and privilege for solicitors.

What to put in client care material

Disclosure works best when it is specific and short. A client care letter or terms of business might cover:

the tasks where AI is used, for example reading title documents, summarising searches, analysing bank statements, ID verification and the client portal;
that a qualified person reviews AI output before advice is given;
where data is processed and that it stays within systems the firm has approved;
whether any client data is used to train AI, and if so, a separate request for consent;
how to ask a person instead of the chatbot, and how to complain about the technology;
how AI affects fees, if at all.

Illustrative wording, to adapt: "We use secure AI tools to help read documents and check information. A qualified member of our team reviews the results before we advise you. Your information is not used to train AI tools without your agreement."

Where onboarding involves automated decisions, the reforms in s.80 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, in force from 5 February 2026 under SI 2026/82, should be reflected in the privacy notice.

What it means for PI

Disclosure does not change what a PI policy covers, and neither the CLC Minimum Terms nor the SRA Minimum Terms mention AI. It does affect how disputes play out. A clear record of what the client was told, and that a person checked the work, helps answer a complaint and supports the defence of a claim. It also helps the firm describe its practices accurately at renewal. See what to document about AI use and whether conveyancing PI covers AI mistakes.

How Apex helps

Apex arranges PI for conveyancers and can explain how insurers are likely to view your AI disclosures. See AI in conveyancing and chatbots and client updates.

Sources

Frequently asked

Do I have to tell conveyancing clients I use AI?

The CLC guidance is voluntary, but it asks practices to explain technology in plain English. The SRA has said firms should tell clients when AI will be used. Data protection law also requires clear information about how personal data is processed.

Do I need consent to use AI on a client's file?

Not necessarily for routine use within approved, secure systems, though the client should be told. The CLC treats using client data to train AI without consent as a harm, and the SRA requires explicit authorisation for training use.

What if a client objects to AI being used on their file?

Discuss what the objection covers and whether the work can be done without the tool, and at what cost. Record the agreement. Principle 5 of the CLC guidance expects clients to have a clear route to raise concerns about technology.

Where should AI disclosure go?

Most firms use the client care letter or terms of business, with detail in the privacy notice and the portal terms. Keep it short and specific, and give clients a way to reach a person and to raise concerns.

Check your PI covers how you use AI

Tell us about your firm and the work you do. A broker will review how your current PI treats AI-assisted work, or arrange new cover. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.

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Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.