Bar of Ireland picks Newcode for barrister AI platform

The Bar of Ireland CEO Shirley Coulter, The Bar of Ireland council chairman Seán Guerin SC,  and Newcode AI director Donna O'Leary. At the announcement of Newcode's successful bid. File picture

The Bar of Ireland has announced the selection of Newcode as its AI provider to deliver AI services for Irish barristers.

The Norway-headquartered legal agentic AI platform was chosen after outperforming international competitors, the Bar of Ireland said in a statement.

Built for regulated environments, the platform will provide AI workflows for users, but the Bar said governance, security and professional standards will be preserved. It is pitching the platform as a digital co-worker for legal teams that sits between a firm’s systems, data and applications.

The adoption of Newcode reflects a wider professional shift towards AI as a governed and structured support for legal work, rather than as a shortcut. It also marks a significant milestone for Newcode following the company’s recent announcement of 30 new jobs.

Seán Guerin SC, Chair of the Bar Council of Ireland, said the emergence of artificial intelligence has implications for the administration of justice and the public’s confidence in it.

"The work of barristers depends not only on professional standards, but on trust — trust in the way legal arguments are prepared, presented, and tested. As new technologies develop, it is important that the profession engages with them in a way that does not weaken that trust," he said.

The Bar of Ireland CEO Shirley Coulter said their approach focused on putting the systems, structures, and supports in place so that members can engage with AI in a practical and reliable way. "This includes not only training, but the creation of shared resources, communities of practice, and ongoing support mechanisms that allow members to develop their use of these tools as their needs evolve.” 

Newcode AI director Donna O'Leary said: “As AI takes on a more central role in legal work, The Bar of Ireland’s decision sets a benchmark for responsible adoption across regulated professions. The partnership will provide Irish barristers with a secure, high-performance AI tool designed to respect the profession’s ethical obligations while enhancing efficiency, clarity and overall capability."