AI Governance Is Now the Most Important Skill Lawyers Need in 2026
AI brings new ethical risks to legal practice. With public trust declining, lawyers need strong AI governance skills to stay ahead in 2026.
Artificial intelligence has moved from peripheral convenience to a core part of legal work. Lawyers are now drafting documents with AI assistance, reviewing evidence with machine learning tools, and relying on generative systems to accelerate research. As the tools advance, the expectations placed on the profession are rising just as quickly.
This shift is not only about efficiency or innovation. It is also about ethics, trust, and responsible governance. These three considerations now sit at the centre of the legal profession's relationship with AI.
AI Is Now One of Australia’s Biggest Ethical Concerns
Governance Institute of Australia’s 2025 Ethics Index shows that Australians rate the importance of ethics at a record high score of 92. At the same time, perceptions of ethical behaviour remain unchanged at a score of 43. This widening gap signals a public that cares deeply about ethics but does not feel those standards are being met.
AI sits prominently within this concern. The Index identifies AI as one of the hardest issues to navigate ethically and notes strong public disapproval of undisclosed AI generated content as well as the replacement of humans in key decisions. These concerns have major implications for legal practice, where transparency and human judgment are foundational expectations.
Why This Matters So Much to Legal Professionals
The legal profession depends on trust. Clients must trust that your advice is accurate and sound. Courts must trust that your submissions are reliable. Regulators must trust that your work meets professional standards. AI introduces new risks into each of these trust relationships.
For example, when AI assists with drafting, lawyers need processes for verifying accuracy. When firms use generative tools, they must understand how those tools store and process data. Australian courts and legal bodies are already issuing guidance and protocols on the appropriate use of AI in legal submissions. Improper use can create ethical, reputational, and even legal consequences.
Lawyers Weekly’s AI Innovate series highlighted examples where poor governance caused significant AI failures in legal practice. These failures included incorrect citations, privacy issues, and unreliable outputs resulting from inadequate oversight. The takeaway for 2026 is clear. AI requires careful governance frameworks rather than ad hoc experimentation.
The Opportunity for Lawyers Who Lead on AI Governance
While the risks are real, the opportunity is equally significant. Lawyers who understand AI governance, ethics and risk management will be well positioned to guide their organisations, their clients and their teams through a rapidly changing landscape.
This is not about learning how to code or becoming a technologist. It is about understanding how to apply legal reasoning, ethical principles, and governance practices to AI. With the right training, lawyers can help their organisations adopt AI responsibly while improving operational efficiency and reducing risk.
How Governance Institute of Australia Helps Lawyers Build AI Governance Capability
Governance Institute of Australia offers a range of certificates and short courses that equip lawyers with the skills needed to navigate AI ethics, compliance, and governance. These programs are designed for governance professionals across sectors, including legal practitioners who want to lead conversations about responsible AI use.
Certificates Suitable for Legal Professionals:
Short Courses That Strengthen AI Governance Skills:
Why Now Is the Right Time to Upskill
The 2025 Ethics Index shows that Australians expect responsible and ethical use of AI. Lawyers are expected to lead on this issue. The legal community, courts, and regulators are moving quickly to define appropriate use. The opportunity for lawyers who build AI governance capability is substantial.
Whether you are a partner setting strategy, an in-house counsel advising executives or a practitioner using AI tools directly, 2026 is the year to invest in AI governance skills.
If you want to confidently and responsibly guide your firm or organisation through AI adoption, now is the time to build the right foundations.
Explore Governance Institute of Australia’s full range of certificates and short courses to strengthen your AI governance expertise.
