Learning to use the tools you already have is usually wiser rather than chasing the newest shiny object du jour. There are a few exceptions. I’ve found two apps particularly useful:
Grammarly. It’s not a spell checker. It’s not a grammar checker. It’s much more. Give it a try. Even lawyers need someone to
Implementing AI is challenging for professions where progress often means figuring out how to get your printer to work. Many lawyers are waiting until they have developed a perfect implementation strategy. They wind up doing nothing.
Lawyers can and should benefit from AI today rather than waiting to develop the world’s greatest policy. Until that
The American Bar Association’s Formal Opinion 512, “Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools,” gets some things right, but goes astray when considering alternative billing models like flat fees:
The factors set forth in Rule 1.5(a) also apply when evaluating the reasonableness of charges for GAI tools when the lawyer and client agree on a flat or
Pro Tip: Take AI’s advice on how to reduce the possibility of errors. ChatGPT hallucinated when I asked it to give examples of brilliant chess games played by a famous player (Lubomir Kavalek). It made up a game that never happened. When I questioned the advice, it apologized. I followed up with a question
Dennis Kennedy’s top lesson learned from 2024 is right on target:
Oh my god, there are so many legal AI experts everywhere. There’s a lot of talk, a lot of people claim that they’re experts. I saw that Stanford is doing a conference in a couple months about best practices in Generative AI. It’s been
Carolyn Elefant has some good advice: “Check everything ChatGPT does.”
I have found two rules of thumb useful:
* Never trust ChatGPT advice on any important issue.
* Always ask ChatGPT for advice on every important issue.
I treat AI as a sort of super law clerk. I would always verify any law
Stephen Embry’s article Billable Hour Tiers for Associates: Progressive or Lipstick on a Pig? has the diagnosis right:
Bloomberg Law recently reported that the venerable firm Steptoe would allow associates to choose their own billable hour targets. The program will start next year. An associate can choose to bill 2200 hours and receive top pay,
The 2024 election results make Glenn Fine’s new book Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government timely and essential reading. It deals with a relatively little-known group that may provide some limits on corrupt or overreaching Presidential actions in these difficult times. LLRX.com has my detailed review.No doubt Trump will attempt to
Lots of good stuff at the AI Law Librarians blog, including their prompt library. Have one to share?
AI Prompt Library for Law: Research, Drafting, Teaching and More
Gotta love it.
Michael Ravnitzky is a national treasure. He earned my respect during my civil service days as a counsel to Inspectors General at multiple agencies. He is a FOIA expert and a relentless seeker of important government information that the public should know. He filed many FOIA requests and followed up on the most important tenaciously.
