When most people think of a contract, they envision a document filled with dense, complex language that seems far removed from everyday speech. This type of writing, often referred to as “legalese,” is typically associated with professional legal documents drafted by trained lawyers. However, a study by Eric Martínez, Francis Mollicab and Edward Gibson has … Read more
The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued a formal opinion addressing the ethical considerations surrounding lawyers’ use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools in legal practice. Formal Opinion 512, released on July 29, 2024, provides crucial guidance for attorneys navigating this rapidly evolving technological landscape. At the heart of … Read more
An engagement letter is the contract that comprehensively defines and governs the attorney-client relationship. The letter serves the critical function of allowing the lawyer and client to formally memorialize the scope, terms, and mutual understandings regarding all aspects of the legal engagement from the outset. A key component is precisely identifying who the client is … Read more
Transactional lawyers can leverage AI in several ways to enhance their practice and deliver more efficient and effective services to clients. AI can be a powerful tool for transactional lawyers, but it’s important that AI be used as an aid and not a replacement for human expertise and judgment. AI systems need to be carefully … Read more
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making inroads into various industries and the legal field is no exception. With the advent of powerful language models like ChatGPT, the prospect of using AI to assist in drafting legal briefs is a tantalizing possibility. However, as with any new technology, there are significant risks associated with the use … Read more
AI systems can take on many tasks that human assistants traditionally perform, but they certainly won’t replace human assistants anytime soon. AI excels at automating routine, repetitive tasks like data entry, scheduling, and information lookup. Hence, AI can augment and assist human assistants by handling the more mundane aspects of their jobs. However, human assistants … Read more
A federal judge harshly criticized a law firm’s attempt to use ChatGPT to help estimate its legal fees in a case against New York City. The Cuddy Law Firm, which specializes in special education cases, cited ChatGPT’s feedback as a “cross-check” to support its request for over $113,000 in fees after successfully representing a student … Read more
As artificial intelligence continues to transform the legal landscape, it brings forth a host of opportunities and challenges. One critical aspect that legal clients must prioritize is the protection of privacy in the era of AI. I explore below the privacy risks associated with AI and provide actionable insights for legal professionals to navigate this … Read more
AI and ethics can walk hand-in-hand. Ever pondered what role artificial intelligence might play in the legal landscape? As technology marches on, AI offers unique opportunities for legal professionals. But training AI isn’t all ones and zeros. Ethical, regulatory, and practical considerations abound. Training AI for legal tasks isn’t a walk in the park. It demands … Read more
The New Jersey Supreme Court has issued preliminary guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence by NJ attorneys. Here is a summary of the key points from the notice regarding the guidelines. The core ethical responsibilities of lawyers outlined in the Rules of Professional Conduct will not change by the integration of AI in legal … Read more