NEW Lawyers’ GenAI Hesitancy: Insights from the 2024 GenAI Professional Services Survey, TechLaw Crossroads, 4/19/24
It seems like every day, there is a new vendor survey about what’s happening in the legal marketplace. Sometimes, these are designed to reveal a result that the vendor thinks will help sell its products. Sometimes, they offer beneficial and, in some cases, remarkably candid insights.
New York State Bar Association releases guidelines for AI adoption, State Scoop, 4/9/24
Lawyers practicing in the state of New York are advised to use generative artificial intelligence with caution, according to a new report by the state bar, which explores the legal, social and ethical impact of AI on the profession.
Gen AI in Law: A Lawyer Reality Check, TechLaw Crossroads, 3/4/24
This article discusses the impact of GenAI on the legal profession, highlighting its potential benefits and challenges. It emphasizes the need for lawyers to understand and adapt to the evolving technology landscape, suggesting that GenAI could enhance legal practice efficiency but also poses ethical and professional responsibility considerations. The author encourages lawyers to embrace technology while remaining vigilant about its limitations and implications.
The AI Lawyer is Here, The Marshall Project, 2/10/24
This article examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal practice, specifically its role in courtroom proceedings. It discusses how AI tools aid lawyers in tasks like legal research and document analysis. While some see AI's efficiency as beneficial, others raise concerns about its impact on job roles and the quality of legal representation.
Law Student’s Gen AI Product, Lexplug, Makes Briefing Cases A Breeze, LawNext, 2/7/24
This article discusses LexPlug, a new AI product designed by law students to streamline the process of briefing cases. LexPlug integrates with legal research platforms like Westlaw and LexisNexis, allowing users to extract relevant case information and generate briefs efficiently. It aims to enhance legal research productivity by automating repetitive tasks and providing valuable insights for legal analysis. LexPlug represents a notable innovation in legal technology, offering law students and legal professionals a powerful tool for case briefing.
Gen AI Could Force Lawyers, Clients to Talk Differently About Billable Hour, Legal Pricing, Law.com, 2/7/24
Lawyers have historically stayed mum about the value of their work and the resources needed to perform it. But if they want to move away from the billable hour, that's going to have to change.
Florida Bar Ethics Opinion OKs Lawyers’ Use Of Generative AI, But With Cautions, LawSites, 1/25/24
A new ethics opinion from The Florida Bar says that lawyers may ethically use generative AI technologies, provided they are careful to adhere to their ethical obligations. The opinion also urges lawyers to continue to develop competency in the use of new technologies such as AI and the risks and benefits inherent in those technologies.
In First for a U.S. Appeals Court, 5th U.S. Circuit Court Considers Rule Requiring Lawyers to Certify they Did Not Rely on AI to Create Filings, LawSites, 11/29/23
In what it appears would be a first for a federal circuit court, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering adoption of a rule change that would require lawyers and unrepresented litigants to provide a certification regarding their use of artificial intelligence in preparing court filings.
Colorado Lawyer Suspended for a Year for Fake ChatGPT Citations, eDiscovery Today, 11/27/23
According to CBS News, A judge ordered Zachariah Crabill to a one year and one day suspension after Crabill allegedly “cited case law that he found through the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT” to draft a motion in a civil case in May. The platform produced cases that were (wait for it!) incorrect and fictitious.
In Case of 'Real Lawyers Against A Robot Lawyer,' Federal Court Dismisses Law Firm's Suit Against DoNotPay for Unauthorized Law Practice, LawSites, 11/21/23
A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a law firm against DoNotPay, a legal technology platform, alleging unauthorized law practice. The court ruled in favor of DoNotPay, stating that the platform's assistance to users in disputing parking tickets does not constitute the unauthorized practice of law. This decision highlights the ongoing legal debates surrounding the role of generative technology in providing legal services.
Pre/Dicta Adds 3 New Motion Outcome Predictions and “Doppelganger” AI Capability, Dewey B Strategic, 11/14/23
The legal tech platform, Pre/Dicta, has introduced three new motion outcome predictions and a Doppelganger AI capability. Pre/Dicta aims to enhance litigation strategy by providing predictions on various legal motions. The Doppelganger AI feature allows users to identify and analyze similar motions from the past to inform their strategies. The additions are designed to offer more comprehensive insights and assist legal professionals in making informed decisions during litigation processes.
73% Of Lawyers Expect To Be Using Generative AI Next Year...But To Do What Exactly?, Above the Law, 11/8/23
This article discusses a survey indicating that 73% of lawyers anticipate incorporating generative AI into their practices within the next year. Despite this high expectation, there exists a lack of clarity regarding the specific applications and functions of generative AI in the legal field. It suggests that while there is a widespread anticipation of using this technology, there is uncertainty about the precise tasks or areas of legal practice where generative AI will be applied. The survey results highlight the need for a more defined understanding of how lawyers envision integrating generative AI into their workflows.
Lexis+ AI Launch Promises Secure, "Hallucination Free" Generative AI Solution With Linked Legal Citations, Dewey B. Strategic, 10/25/23
Lexis AI has launched a generative AI solution that prioritizes the creation of content with secure and accurate legal citations. This tool aims to prevent the generation of unreliable or "hallucinated" legal references, ensuring that the citations provided are credible and trustworthy. This initiative demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the integrity of legal information and resources in the context of generative AI applications.
CLM Company SpotDraft Unveils Generative AI Contract Review Add-In for Word (and For A Time It's Free), LawSites, 10/20/23
SpotDraft, a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) company, has introduced a generative AI contract review add-in for Microsoft Word. This add-in allows legal professionals to review and draft contracts more efficiently, automating routine tasks and improving accuracy. While the article notes that initially, the tool is being offered for free, it suggests that the introduction of such generative AI tools demonstrates their growing significance in the legal industry, making contract management and review processes faster and more streamlined.
vLex Launches First Global AI Legal Assistant: Vincent AI for Research and Drafting, Dewey B Strategic, 10/17/23
VLEX, a legal research provider, has launched "Vincent AI," which is touted as the first global AI legal assistant for research and drafting. Vincent AI aims to streamline the legal research and drafting process, offering tools to assist lawyers in finding relevant legal information and generating legal documents more efficiently. The platform incorporates natural language processing and machine learning to enhance legal research capabilities, potentially transforming how legal professionals access and utilize legal information.
Pras Michel of Fugees seeks new trial, contends former attorney used AI for closing argument, Politico, 10/16/23
In a recent trial involving hip-hop artist Pras Michel of the Fugees, the defense employed an AI-generated closing argument to address the jury. The AI argument, generated with the help of ChatGPT, was designed to provide an alternative perspective to the jury. The use of AI in legal proceedings raises ethical and legal questions about its potential impact on the legal profession and the justice system. As AI's role in the legal field continues to evolve, it will be subject to ongoing scrutiny and debate.
Corporate Attorneys Don't Want to Pay Law Firms for ChatGPT When They Could Use it Themselves, Reuters, 6/30/23
Corporate attorneys are open to generative AI tools but don't want to pay law firms for tasks they believe in-house lawyers can handle. They have concerns about accuracy, privacy, confidentiality, and costs. Despite the potential for AI to disrupt the legal industry, it hasn't significantly impacted rate discussions between law firms and corporate clients. Proactive discussions to address ethical concerns and shape AI policies are recommended as these tools continue to evolve.
Generative AI & the Legal Professions Survey, Lexis, 4/27/23
This report discusses and extensive survey conducted to better understand the overall awareness of GenAI, current use of GenAI tools in daily work, and willingness to adopt GenAI tools for various legal matters. The survey was conducted across 4,180 people, including 1,176 lawyers, 1,239 law students, and 1,765 consumers. This report provides insights into the awareness, usage, impact, potential, and ethical considerations surrounding generative AI (GAI), as well as how it may impact the relationships between counsel and their clients and the education of new lawyers.