AI literacy and certification in the legal sector.
In the legal sector, the debate on AI sits at the intersection of efficiency and professional ethics. NOvA published "Recommendations AI in the legal profession" in late 2025, with the core principle that the lawyer retains final responsibility. International incidents involving AI-fabricated case law make AI literacy a matter with direct disciplinary implications.
What is at play
What is at play in the legal sector.
Dutch law firms work with Luminance (NautaDutilh) for due diligence, FORCYD for e-discovery, GenIA-L (Sdu, with among others AKD, Houthoff and Mazars) for Dutch-language legal research, Harvey (including CMS) for research and argument analysis, and Microsoft Copilot for document support. De Rechtspraak published its AI strategy and launched a national AI programme in June 2025; draft judgments and B1-level translation are planned, while a "robot judge" is explicitly ruled out.
Why AI literacy matters especially here
Confidentiality, professional ethics and final responsibility.
The core values of Article 10a of the Advocatenwet (independence, partisanship, expertise, integrity, confidentiality) and the duty of confidentiality under Article 11a form the foundation. The NOvA recommendations state, among other things, that basic AI knowledge is mandatory, output must be verified manually, and no confidential data may be entered into free tools. AI in law enforcement and judicial authorities falls within the Annex III high-risk category; in private legal practice, AI generally does not automatically fall within that category. The CCBE guideline on generative AI (2 October 2025) forms the European reference framework.
The four SAIG levels for the legal sector
Four levels, one framework.
For secretarial and administrative staff who work peripherally with AI tools.
For legal assistants, paralegals and trainee lawyers who use AI in everyday standard processes.
Core level for lawyers/advocates, candidate notaries and corporate lawyers who use AI intensively and must legally account for output.
For partners, notaries, compliance officers, knowledge managers, bar supervisors and heads of innovation who oversee procurement, policy and firm-wide governance.
Which level fits which role?
Role and recommended level.
| Role | AI contact | Recommended level |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary, administrative staff | peripheral | Awareness Badge |
| Legal assistant, paralegal, trainee | daily standard processes | Basis |
| Lawyer/advocate (associate/senior), candidate notary | substantive use in case files | Practitioner |
| Corporate lawyer, in-house counsel | advising with AI-backed analysis | Practitioner |
| Partner, notary, knowledge manager | procurement, methodology | Advanced |
| Compliance officer, bar supervisor, DPO, head of innovation | governance, professional rules | Advanced |
For organisations and for professionals
One standard, two tracks.
For law firms and notarial practices, SAIG offers a structured framework that aligns with NOvA recommendations and the CCBE guideline. It provides a verifiable means of fulfilling Article 4 obligations per job group, independent of supplier or trainer. For individual legal professionals, a SAIG certificate provides verifiable evidence of tested AI competence, with explicit attention to confidentiality and professional liability.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about AI in the legal sector.
Is a SAIG certificate mandatory for lawyers?
No. Neither Article 4 of the AI Act nor the NOvA recommendations prescribe SAIG certification. It is one structured way to demonstrably comply.
How does SAIG relate to the NOvA recommendations?
Complementarily. NOvA sets the standards; SAIG tests the personal competence needed to meet those standards.
Which level is appropriate for a trainee lawyer?
Basis is generally sufficient; Practitioner for intensive use in case work.
What if AI produces fabricated case law?
Final responsibility remains with the lawyer. Verification of AI output is a Practitioner and Advanced competence within SAIG.
Does SAIG also apply to notaries?
Yes. Although KNB has not yet published a formal AI guidelines framework at NOvA's level of detail, the confidentiality and duty-of-care obligations are comparable.
May confidential client data be entered into public AI tools?
According to NOvA, not without contractual safeguards or in-house hosting. SAIG-Practitioner and -Advanced test the competence to assess this.
Next step
Schedule an orientation call.
We discuss what Article 4 means specifically for your organisation in the legal sector and which SAIG route fits your roles and risk profile.
Sources: NOvA Recommendations AI in the legal profession 2025; Advocatenblad (10 Dec 2025); CCBE Guide on the use of generative AI by Lawyers (2 Oct 2025); Rechtspraak AI strategy; EUR-Lex Regulation (EU) 2024/1689.