It’s an ethics twofer out of New York, New York (specifically the Southern District of New York) this week. First, Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s lawyer David M. Schwartz filed a motion to end his client’s supervised release early. In the motion paperwork, Schwartz cited three District Court decisions. Routine, right? Regular readers of this
The First Rule Of Messing-Stuff-Up Club: Don't Blame the Intern
Another day, another misuse of ChatGPT. A Colorado attorney was fired from his job after using, and suspended last month for one year and one day (with all but 90 days stayed, subject to probation) because he used, ChatGPT to prepare a motion. As with other lawyers who’ve gotten into trouble for misusing AI, Zachariah
Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: How To Maintain Your Technical Competency
Lately I have been inundated with news and information about Artificial Intelligence. It seems that all the legal news is talking about these days, and will not stop talking about, is how AI is going to change my life. Forever. In major ways. As the ABA recently noted,
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing everything
A Chat with GPT
Q. Is it ethical for lawyers to use artificial intelligence to write briefs, draft legal instruments or provide other services?
GPT: While there isn’t a clear-cut answer, it’s not inherently unethical for an attorney to use artificial intelligence. However, attorneys must still fulfill their ethical obligations, including competence, supervision, confidentiality, and avoiding the unauthorized practice
Inhuman Error
Q. To err may be human, but is it a bigger mistake for lawyers to rely on artificial intelligence?
A. Not according to my know-it-all friend, who thinks artificial intelligence is far superior to that of an attorney. (I’d hate to embarrass him, so I’ll just use initials.)When I lamented the complexity of many legal doctrines, G.P.T.
Law Firm "Audits"
Q. As if I don’t have enough to do, my insurance agent thinks I should get a “risk management audit” of my law firm. Is this really necessary?
A. It’s not necessary at all. Nor is professional growth, job satisfaction, or passion for the practice of law.Although enduring an “audit” evokes images of stressful meetings with intimidating IRS
ChatGTP, Access to Justice, and UPL
ChatGTP holds excellent potential for increasing access to justice and the legal system.
When I asked ChatGTP 3.5 what its impact on the delivery of legal services and legal access, it reported:
“Access to justice: ChatGTP can improve access to justice by making legal information more accessible to the general public. By providing information on
New DOJ/Commerce ‘Disruptive Technology Strike Force’
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced the creation of a “Disruptive Technology Strike Force.” The strike force will be co-led by DOJ’s National Security Division and Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, with support from 14 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in 12 major metropolitan areas across the
Software Substitutes for Lawyers
Marc Andreessen quipped in 2011: “Software is eating the world”. The idea of software substitutes for lawyers’ work is a radical idea for some lawyers.
The legal profession is not immune from this development. Law has a high information component. In a large sense, law is information or as Bill Palin, the young lawyer who
More thoughts on law firm research and librarianship
Legal librarianship is constantly in a state of flux, with continual changes in job titles, habitual shifting of responsibilities and the explosion of legal artificial intelligence all playing a part. In January of this year, LAC Group surveyed their internal personnel about the future of law librarianship, based in part by the responses collected from