artiFiCiaLinteLLigenCe & thepraCtiCeoFLaw
Technology Section Chairs : JasonPill – PhelpsDunbar & KurtSanger – BuchananIngersoll & Rooney
kickingtheaicansix monthsdowntheroadmay onlyputanattorneysix monthsbehindoncritical professionaldevelopments .
November ’ s HCBA Bench Bar Conference featured two sessions on artificial intelligence . Professor Bill Hamilton of the University of Florida ’ s Levin College of Law gave the keynote address , “ The Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on the Practice of Law .” An afternoon panel , “ AI for Excellence : Using Artificial Intelligence Tools to Advance Your Practice ,” focused on AI-enabled capabilities , as well as the legal and ethical issues raised by their use .
As these sessions highlighted , artificial intelligence appears to be on the cusp of reshaping the foundations of the legal profession . To the extent the momentum may
be slowed , it is because most attorneys are not ready to incorporate AI tools in their practices . However , kicking the AI can six months down the road may only serve to put an attorney six months behind on critical professional developments .
AI ’ s risk to the legal profession is not that it will replace lawyers ; however , it is possible , perhaps probable , that lawyers who use AI will replace lawyers who do not . In that regard , attorneys should note seven considerations that were shared at the Conference ’ s afternoon AI session :
1 . Client Requests . Attorneys should be ready for more clients to ask about fixed-fee
billing because of AI ’ s increased efficiencies . Attorneys should also be able to succinctly explain how their practices use AI .
2 . Data Management . Attorneys should appoint a Chief Information Officer who is responsible for their organization ’ s data . Attorneys should deploy tools to monitor and block unapproved AI , and organizations should continuously monitor their personnel ’ s use of AI .
3 . Training . Attorneys and other employees should be trained on how to use AI . For example ,
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