USE OF AI BY LAWYERS

AI in the Legal Profession: Boon, Burden, and the Boundaries of Ethics

There is no question that Artificial Intelligence will become a powerful tool for lawyers and law firms. It can save countless hours in document review, contract analysis, legal research, and even drafting memoranda. Tasks that once consumed days or weeks of human labor can now be completed in minutes.

But that word completed is deceptive. The correct term is aided.

No matter how advanced the technology becomes, AI is not a substitute for human judgment. The American Bar Association, along with state bar associations and licensing authorities, will inevitably update their codes of professional responsibility and canons of ethics to address the use of AI in legal practice. And when they do, two principles will dominate: disclosure and verification.

Disclosure: Clients Will Know

Future ethical rules will require attorneys to inform their clients when AI is being used in their cases. In fact, some clients will request it, others will permit it, and some will outright require it, specifying in detail how and when AI should be used. The client’s right to know will become as fundamental as their right to understand the fee structure or the strategy for their case.

Verification: AI Must Be Audited

Bar associations will also insist that the output of any AI system be double-checked by a human lawyer, and not just any lawyer, but one seasoned in the subject matter at hand. This is not bureaucratic overreach; it is a safeguard against AI's very real weaknesses.

As we noted in our prior article, AI can:

• Hallucinate—producing facts, citations, or legal precedents that never existed.

• Misinterpret statutes or case law in ways no competent lawyer would.

• Overlook nuance that is second nature to experienced practitioners.

• Reflect bias embedded in its training data.

These risks demand that lawyers remain in control of the process. AI can do the heavy lifting, but the lawyer must confirm every AI-assisted output's accuracy, relevance, and appropriateness.

The New Role of Legal Technologists

This emerging reality will create a new hybrid role in law firms: the AI Legal Auditor, someone who understands not only the substantive law but also the inner workings of AI, its strengths, and its vulnerabilities. These professionals will know what to look for, what to doubt, and when to intervene.

The Boon That Requires Boundaries

When used correctly, AI can free lawyers to focus on strategy, client counseling, and advocacy,  the profession's core functions that machines cannot replace. But without boundaries, oversight, and complete transparency, AI could become a liability rather than an asset.

The future of AI in the legal profession will not be defined by its capabilities alone, but by the rules, safeguards, and human judgment that govern its use. The bar will, and must, set that standard.

In short, AI will not replace lawyers, but it will change the way they work. And the lawyers who thrive will be those who master both the law and the limits of the machine.

William James Spriggs