Plain-English AI definitions for legal professionals. For what bars actually require, see the Legal AI Compliance Register.
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AI audit

Risk and governance Last reviewed 2026-06-11

Definition A structured review of an AI system or an organization's AI use, testing whether it works as claimed and complies with applicable policies, contracts, and laws—examining accuracy, bias, security, and data handling.

In more depth

An audit may target a specific tool (does the contract-review system find what it claims?), a vendor (do its practices match its security questionnaire answers?), or the organization's own program (is the AI policy actually followed?). Emerging AI regulations and client outside-counsel guidelines increasingly call for periodic review of this kind. Audits also produce documentation that an organization exercised reasonable diligence, which matters if an AI-related failure is later challenged.

Related terms

AI governanceSOC 2AI policy

About the editor: MHSB Solutions, Research desk. MHSB Solutions is not a law firm. This glossary is educational information, not legal advice.

Educational information, not legal advice. AI terminology and tools change quickly; definitions reflect usage as of the last-updated date. For what bar associations and courts actually require of lawyers using AI, see legalaicompliance.help and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.