Methodological statement

AI for legal practice built around European professional principles

Veritas Ask is a European professional AI designed with the principles highlighted by the CCBE for the responsible use of generative AI by lawyers in mind.

  • Confidentiality
  • Data protection
  • Professional responsibility
  • Transparency
  • Human oversight

Why the CCBE principles matter

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) represents the European legal profession and has long addressed the independence of lawyers, professional secrecy and the confidentiality of lawyer–client communications.

As generative AI becomes increasingly present in legal practice, the CCBE has issued dedicated guidance for lawyers. This guidance does not reject artificial intelligence. It recognises its potential while making clear that the lawyer’s professional obligations remain in place when AI is used.

CCBE guidance provides professional recommendations, not legislation or approval of a particular product. It addresses the legal profession; it does not establish professional rules for judges, prosecutors or courts. Confidentiality and human responsibility are also relevant to the wider legal sector.

Five principles we consider fundamental

01

Confidentiality and professional secrecy

Lawyers remain responsible for protecting information entrusted to them by their clients. The use of AI does not remove or transfer this obligation to a technology provider.

The CCBE expressly advises lawyers not to submit personal, confidential or other client-related data to generative AI unless appropriate safeguards are in place. Examples identified by the CCBE include contractual confidentiality or zero-data-retention arrangements, a DPA limiting the use of submitted data to the purposes of the law firm or lawyer, technical safeguards or a secured environment. Where appropriate, the CCBE also refers to processing data within the EU/EEA.

02

Control over data

Professional users should understand how prompts, documents and other information submitted to an AI system are processed, retained and potentially shared or otherwise used.

03

Professional and technological competence

The use of AI does not remove the lawyer’s responsibility for professional work. Lawyers should understand the capabilities and limitations of the technology they use and verify outputs where appropriate.

04

Human responsibility and independence

AI should support professional judgement rather than replace it. Automated output should not substitute independent legal analysis.

05

Transparency

Where it can reasonably be assumed that an informed client would object, impose conditions or otherwise have reservations about a particular use of generative AI, the lawyer should ensure appropriate transparency with the client.

This is not a general requirement to obtain client consent for every use of AI. The particular use, applicable law and professional rules must always be considered.

How Veritas Ask approaches these principles

Veritas Ask was designed from the outset for professional legal work where sensitive or confidential information may need to be handled. Its architecture therefore treats control over data, confidentiality and professional responsibility as fundamental design principles — not optional settings.

Data in the European Union

Customer data is stored and processed within the European Union, including AI inference.

Data residency

No training on user data

We do not use user content to train Veritas Ask.

AI usage

European by design

The service has been designed with the European legal and data-protection environment in mind.

Human responsibility remains essential

Veritas Ask supports professional work. It does not replace professional judgement, legal responsibility or appropriate verification.

Security as a design principle

The protection of professional data is not an optional add-on. It is one of the principles around which Veritas Ask is designed.

Professional AI should not require a lawyer to navigate dozens of settings, exceptions and data-processing modes before it can be used responsibly. A secure professional environment should be part of the product’s design.

A clear interface does not replace the assessment of contractual terms, suitability and professional duties for a particular matter.

European AI for professional work

Veritas Ask was not created as a consumer chatbot and later adapted for professional use. From the outset, it has been designed as a European professional AI environment for work where confidentiality, control over data and responsibility are fundamental requirements.

Use AI professionally.

Veritas Ask combines modern AI capabilities with a European approach to security, data protection and professional responsibility.

Try Veritas AskSecurity & Data Protection

Official European sources

  1. CCBE Guide on the Use of Generative AI by Lawyers

    · PDF · ccbe.eu

    Confidentiality, competence, independence and transparency towards clients; in particular sections 4.1–4.5.

  2. CCBE Technical Guide on the Use of AI Tools and Models by Lawyers

    · PDF · ccbe.eu

    Technical competence and the evaluation of AI tools, including SaaS and data processing.

  3. CCBE Guidelines on the Use of Cloud Computing by Bars and Lawyers

    · PDF · ccbe.eu

    Professional duties, cloud suppliers, data location and contractual terms.

CCBE (the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe) is an international non-profit organisation representing approximately one million European lawyers through its member bars and law societies across dozens of European countries.