Claudia Santos Cruz is the author of the article "Legal ethics in an age of disruption", published by the International Bar Association (IBA), in which she examines the ethical challenges that artificial intelligence, social media and the transformation of legal service delivery models pose to the legal profession.
In the article, Claudia argues that the use of artificial intelligence tools does not alter a lawyer's responsibility for the work they produce. Critical thinking, ethical judgement and human oversight remain as essential as ever, whatever the tool used to get there.
She also addresses the impact of automation on the training of younger lawyers, and the risks that come with legal professionals' growing exposure on social media.
Claudia further highlights the need to balance the efficiency gains technology offers against quality, verification and risk management in legal work, cautioning against treating speed as a substitute for judgement.
The article stems from her participation in the 3rd IBA Global Professional Ethics Symposium, held in June 2026.
Claudia Santos Cruz is a Partner at Morais Leitão Legal Circle/MDR Advogados and a practising lawyer qualified in England, Portugal and Mozambique, with extensive experience in cross-jurisdictional legal practice. She serves as Vice-Chair of the IBA's African Regional Forum and as an officer of the Oil & Gas Committee. Her presentation at the 3rd IBA Global Professional Ethics Symposium, organised by the IBA Professional Ethics Committee, focused on the ethical challenges associated with AI adoption, digital visibility and the preservation of professional responsibility in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
Read the full article on the IBA website.