No longer a future consideration for lawyers, artificial intelligence (AI) has begun reshaping the creation, delivery, and evaluation of information, as well as how attorneys fulfill their professional responsibilities. From generative AI tools used for drafting and research to AI-assisted decision-making and client communications, lawyers increasingly encounter ethical questions beyond the scope of existing rules. While AI tools offer tremendous opportunities for efficiency and innovation, they also introduce new ethical challenges, professional risks, and regulatory considerations that every attorney must understand.

This practical and engaging course explores how law firms use AI and examines the ethical duties that apply when lawyers adopt these powerful technologies. Drawing on existing professional responsibility rules, emerging guidance from organizations such as the American Bar Association, and real-world examples, the program provides clear, actionable insights for responsible AI use.

The program addresses real-world risks associated with AI, including confidentiality breaches, inaccurate or fabricated outputs, over-reliance on automated tools, bias embedded in AI systems, and the erosion of professional judgment. The program pays special attention to responsible AI use, including human oversight, verification of AI-generated content, client disclosures, and risk-management strategies that lawyers can implement immediately.

The class also looks ahead, helping attorneys understand how emerging regulations, court expectations, and evolving professional standards will likely impact AI use in the coming years.

Key Topics Covered:

• AI in Legal Practice: Explore how law firms use generative and agentic AI tools, from contract drafting and legal research to client communications and case management. Understand the differences between reactive AI (like ChatGPT) and autonomous agentic AI, and why these distinctions matter for legal professionals.


• Ethical Duties and Professional Responsibility: Learn how the ABA Model Rules and state bar guidelines apply to AI use, including duties of competence, confidentiality, supervision, candor, and reasonable fees. Discover how to maintain compliance and client trust in an AI-enabled practice.


• Risks and Best Practices: Identify the risks of AI “hallucinations,” data privacy breaches, and overreliance on technology. Gain practical strategies for verifying AI outputs, safeguarding client information, and ensuring human oversight at every step.


• Responsible AI Use: Review sample law firm policies, regulatory frameworks, and practical checklists for responsible AI adoption. Discuss how to choose secure, legal-specific AI tools and implement firm-wide protocols for transparency and risk management.


• AI and Ethics Rules: Examine recent ethics opinions, including the ABA’s first formal guidance on generative AI, and survey state bar positions on AI in legal practice. Understand when disclosure or client consent is required, and how to supervise staff and vendors using AI.


• Emerging Issues and Future Trends: Delve into evolving topics such as bias and fairness in AI, regulatory developments, AI in the courtroom, and the impact of AI on access to justice and professional identity.


• Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Ethical obligations for protecting client data.


• AI Governance and Policy: How law firms and legal departments can develop internal policies for AI use, risk management, and compliance.


• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working with technologists, data scientists, and ethicists to oversee and audit AI systems throughout their lifecycle.

The course also addresses practical questions, such as:

• Can lawyers rely on AI-generated legal research or drafting?
• When should you disclose AI use to clients?
• How should attorneys verify AI outputs?
• What steps should firms take to protect sensitive client data?

This course welcomes attorneys at every career stage, as well as law students and legal operations professionals curious about how technology has reshaped the legal field. If you have just started to explore AI or already have experience with these tools, you’ll find practical advice, real-world examples, and guidance you can apply immediately to your own practice. We want to help you navigate the ethical challenges of AI with confidence and clarity, so you can serve your clients — and the profession — responsibly.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this program, participants will understand how to:

1. Apply the duty of technological competence to artificial intelligence tools used in legal practice, consistent with Model Rule 1.1 (Competence) and its comments addressing relevant technology.


2. Identify and manage confidentiality risks associated with AI systems, including cloud-based and third-party platforms, under Model Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality of Information) and related guidance on reasonable efforts to safeguard client data.


3. Understand a lawyer’s obligation to supervise AI tools and nonlawyer assistance, including vendors and automated systems, consistent with Model Rules 5.1 and 5.3 (Responsibilities of Supervisory Lawyers and Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance).


4. Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated outputs to avoid misleading clients, courts, or third parties, consistent with Model Rules 1.4 (Communication), 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), and 4.1 (Truthfulness in Statements to Others).


5. Recognize ethical risks created by bias, hallucinations, and overreliance on AI, and apply professional judgment to ensure independent legal analysis as required by Model Rule 2.1 (Advisor).


6. Assess when to disclose AI use, including communications with clients and courts, under Model Rules 1.4 (Communication) and 3.3 (Candor).


7. Develop best practices for responsible AI adoption, including policies, training, and human oversight, to maintain compliance with Model Rule 1.1 (Competence) and Model Rule 5.1 (Firm Responsibilities).


8. Anticipate evolving ethical guidance and regulatory developments related to AI, including opinions and resolutions issued by the American Bar Association, state bars, and courts.