What ChatGPT’s New Restrictions Mean for Clients and Solicitors

AI, Family Law, and the Limits of Legal Advice

The International Business Times recently published an article that OpenAI has imposed new restrictions on ChatGPT: it can no longer offer specific legal, medical, or financial advice. Instead, the platform is being reframed as an educational resource rather than a personal adviser. Read the article here.

As a family solicitor in England and Wales, I found this especially interesting — because I’d recently tested ChatGPT myself by asking it about financial remedy proceedings. 

The results were revealing.

What Happened When I Asked ChatGPT for Legal Advice

I asked ChatGPT whether it could give me legal advice about an ongoing financial remedy case.
Its response was clear:

It could explain the law and court procedures — such as how to complete and file a Form A, what a First Directions Appointment (FDA) involves, and how financial disclosure works — but it could not provide specific advice on what a person should do in their case.

That distinction — between education and advice — is the new regulatory boundary that OpenAI has drawn. It’s a significant and, in my view, sensible development.

Why This Matters in Family Law

In the context of financial remedy proceedings, clients often need to understand:

• What a Form A does and when to file it
• What happens at a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting)
• What to expect at an FDA or FDR hearing
• How the court considers property, maintenance, and pension issues

AI tools like ChatGPT can be extremely helpful in explaining these procedural steps in plain English. They can demystify the process and help clients prepare for meetings with their solicitor.

But — and it’s a big “but” — AI cannot replace professional judgement.
It cannot assess the fairness of a settlement proposal, anticipate judicial discretion, or advise on strategy. Those are deeply human tasks requiring experience, context, and empathy.

The Emerging Role of AI in Family Law

Rather than replacing lawyers, AI is likely to enhance the relationship between solicitors and their clients.
Clients who use ChatGPT to understand the basics — timelines, terminology, or what happens at each stage — come to consultations more informed. That allows solicitors to spend less time explaining “what is a Form A?” and more time focusing on negotiation, disclosure, and settlement strategy.

Used well, AI can:

• Empower clients with accessible knowledge
• Streamline communication by improving client understanding
• Support solicitors in explaining complex processes clearly and consistently

But it must always be used within its limits — as a tool for understanding, not a source of advice.

My Take as a Family Solicitor

In financial remedy work, every case is unique. The right approach depends on your financial circumstances, family dynamics, and future needs. No AI system — however advanced — can weigh those human nuances the way a qualified family lawyer can.

AI can help you understand the road ahead, but it can’t walk it for you.

So, by all means, use ChatGPT to learn about the process — but when it comes to decisions that affect your home, your pension, and your children’s future, speak to a solicitor who can give you bespoke advice grounded in experience and the law.

Robert Webster is a Partner at Maguire Family Law, specialising in high-net-worth contentious financial remedy proceedings and cases involving complex financial assets, including cryptocurrency.