Artificial Intelligence, Real Issues: Ethical Issues Involving Attorneys’ Use of AI

The internet and social media have become entrenched in everyday life for most people. But for attorneys, these technologies are fraught with legal and ethical issues they must confront in their work and daily lives. While ethical rules and opinions now provide some guidance on these issues, many lawyers are not aware of them or informed about them. In their use of the internet and social media, attorneys must balance court and ethical rules, statutes and rules regarding their behavior, as well as the behavior and online activities of their clients and other trial participants, all while advocating and representing their clients’ best interests. This seminar will explore these issues and how attorneys can address the conflicts.

This program will explore the legal and ethical rules and constraints regarding attorneys’ use of the internet and social media, including proper behavior in advancing their clients’ interests, as well as their (the attorney’s) own.

This is particularly useful for Attorneys who may become involved in litigation and other situations that attract media and public interest. Attorneys at all levels of practice will gain valuable skills from this course.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the specific ethical provisions (ABA Model Rules, state-specific ethics opinions) and issues applicable to use of Artificial Intelligence in legal practice.
• Understand ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 512, the fundamental guidance on ethical issues arising from lawyers’ use of generative artificial intelligence tools.
• Identify other ABA Model Rules and ethical principles implicated in use of AI by lawyers.
• Identify state ethical rules and opinions regarding use of artificial intelligence.
• Understand New York’s rather comprehensive ethical rules and opinions regarding use of artificial intelligence.
• Understand the ethical implications of the use of AI for routine attorney tasks, and the ethical rules at issue with each.