The UK's Bar Standards Board (BSB) has suspended the license of Bangladeshi-origin lawyer Muhammad Mujibur Rahman for six months. This follows his citation of a non-existent case generated by AI tool ChatGPT in court, sparking a debate on the use of AI in the legal profession.
An independent interim suspension panel ordered Rahman's immediate temporary dismissal on May 18. The suspension will be in effect for six months, with a further interim hearing before the period ends for reconsideration.
The BSB did not disclose the specific allegations against Rahman. However, last year, London's Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) ruled that Rahman had acted unprofessionally by citing a fake case from ChatGPT without verifying its authenticity.
The tribunal emphasized the importance of lawyers providing truthful and accurate information to the court. The BSB, which regulates UK lawyers, can impose penalties such as warnings, fines, suspensions, or license revocation for unethical conduct or failure to meet professional standards.
Efforts to contact Rahman for comment were unsuccessful. He has not responded to inquiries regarding the suspension's cause, the nature of the allegations, or whether he plans to appeal the decision.
