One of the primary blockers when it comes to lawyers embracing tools like ChatGPT is legal ethics rules.
The promised efficiency gains offered by these tools come with their own set of challenges, including doubts over result accuracy and concerns about client confidentiality.
In the absence of clear ethical guidance, adoption by lawyers is anything but straightforward. Fortunately, ethics committees in several states are already hard at work on these issues. For example, in May, the California Bar created a committee tasked with examining the impact of AI on the profession.
In July, the New York State Bar Association announced that it was forming a task force to address emerging issues related to artificial intelligence.
A few weeks later, the Texas State Bar also disclosed the formation of a group that would “examine the ethical pitfalls and practical uses of AI and report back within the year.”
Most recently, the Board Review Committee on Professional Ethics will consider adopting a proposed advisory opinion at the direction of The Florida Bar Board of Governors based on an inquiry by the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools and Resources.
As we head into a new era where AI innovation and legal ethics may collide, it’s clear that we’re in for some interesting times. Generative AI tools are already here and lawyers are using them, despite the unsettled ethical landscape.
Source: Above the Law
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