• THE STATE OF AI
VIETNAM
MY ADVICE...
At the end of the day, AI is not a passing trend nor an impending apocalypse - rather, it stands as a nascent tool with the potential to significantly reshape the landscape of legal work and redefine revenue streams for law firms. The current state of AI is akin to its infancy, and while it continues to evolve beyond its “teenage” phase into a future state of maturity, it is still wise for us to be cautiously optimistic.
GenAI in disputes. I could think of several reasons why it would be helpful and other reasons why it would be damaging. GenAI platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Bard are essentially predictive text machines that were trained on a gargantuan amount of material from undisclosed sources. They may seem like fact-churning sophisticated search engines but are more accurately categorised as content creation tools that were designed to create new and original content outside the parameters of their original training materials. Their priority is not to be “right”, no matter how confident and accurate they sound. We’ve seen how ChatGPT can seriously sabotage legal professionals. GenAI tools were never meant to be used in this way without the oversight of thinking, breathing and living experts. Still, I am not a tech-sceptic lawyer who is resistant to change. I truly believe that AI has a place in certain aspects of the dispute resolution process, particularly in handling extensive volumes of documents and data typically handled
by a team of document reviewers, translation/transcription services, predictive analysis for more thorough case preparations, and more. But these are minor roles and we cannot diminish the pivotal role of human input and oversight. In essence, while we find inspiration in the potential of AI, it has a considerable journey ahead to instil confidence, particularly within the dispute resolution landscape. Q3 How is your jurisdiction preparing to tackle bias and transparency in generative AI tools? The use of AI currently remains largely unregulated in Vietnam, and it will be increasingly necessary for the government to implement safeguards to ensure that it can be used reliably and fairly. In the meantime, lawyers will need to be aware of the risks, take a cautious approach to using unknown or new AI tools, make sure that their clients’ data is kept confidential and protected against unauthorised use, and take steps to be ahead of the learning curve.
Reasons for caution
Globally and in Vietnam, GenAI is still in its nascent stage when it comes to dispute cases necessitating the development of existing law, application of the law to novel situations, and the absence of a substantial volume of case law. Factors such as the demand for broader considerations of public policy and local context further contribute to this complexity. Q2 How do you feel about generative AI in disputes? Could ChatGPT or related applications pose a faster, fairer dispute resolution process, or does it pose a serious risk to the resolution process?
Stephen Le Founder Le & Tran Law Corporation
Q1 Is generative AI already being used in dispute resolution in your jurisdiction? Lawyers in Southeast Asia are a conservative bunch, reflecting a profession and culture that places a high premium on preparedness, sagacity, and adherence to precedent. No doubt, there are plenty of cautionary headlines globally that nudge us in the same direction. Simply put, we do have
“We’ve seen how ChatGPT can seriously sabotage legal professionals.”
Stephen, a senior trial lawyer and founder of Le & Tran, brings an illustrious career underscored by an impressive background in litigation, arbitration and criminal defence. His expertise, coupled with a mastery of Vietnam’s legal system, positions him as a formidable player in the field. In 2017, Stephen was awarded the prestigious “Disputes Star of the Year” from AsiaLaw Profiles. Since then, he has been consistently ranked in reputable publications such as Chambers Asia Pacific, Legal500 and Benchmark Litigation. Stephen’s expertise has also been acknowledged by multinational enterprises such as Petronas (Malaysia), who endorsed Stephen as the Best Trial Lawyer they have ever worked with in Vietnam.
I would hesitate to form a definitive black-or-white position on the use of
About us... letranlaw.com Le & Tran, distinguished as a premier law firm in Vietnam, has garnered widespread acclaim from both the business community and international legal entities, solidifying their reputation as preeminent legal professionals in the region. Over the past 12 years, the team’s unwavering commitment to excellence and integrity has propelled the firm to prominence, establishing Le & Tran as a formidable presence in the realms of commercial litigation and arbitration in Vietnam. The firm consistently receives international recognition, earning accolades from multinational clients and esteemed organisations like Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific and Legal500. Poised for transformative growth, Le & Tran has its sights set on evolving into a leading international law corporation, guided by a
strategic vision built on three pillars: international finesse, unrivalled local expertise, and operational mastery. Internationally, Le & Tran draws on keen corporate insights from global clients such as QBE, Marvell Technology, Petronas, and others, seamlessly aligning international corporate culture with local governance. Locally, their proficiency in commercial litigation and white-collar crimes is demonstrated through their impressive track record in navigating complex legal scenarios with high levels of precision and dedication. Le & Tran also employs high-tech automation and systems in their processes, underscoring their commitment to excellence in legal service delivery, and putting them at the forefront of innovation and change.
Throughout his career, Stephen has advised and represented 50+ global corporations and 200+ individual clients. His influence also extends
plenty of good reasons to be wary - the lack of credibility and transparency of GenAI providers on their training datasets, the glaring bias particularly in areas like race and gender, the real risk of ‘hallucination’, the lack of privacy safeguards and
to the business community, where he actively contributes to legal discourse through seminars in collaboration with AmCham Vietnam.
+84 2838 421 242 hoangchuong.le@letranlaw.com irglobal.com/advisor/stephen-le
more. In international arbitrations, the stakes are simply too high.
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