A Cautionary Tale of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Legal Field
- William Richter | Attorney
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the legal field continues to grow, with tools like research databases and cloud management transforming legal practice. AI offers fantastic tools that produce efficiency at levels never seen before. However, this article serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting critical pitfalls attorneys must navigate when using AI, such as language models like ChatGPT, while also showcasing select benefits.
Negative Impacts of AI in the Legal Profession
AI language models like ChatGPT have a propensity to cite incorrect or nonexistent cases, a phenomenon known as a “hallucination” in the AI community. This is a regular occurrence where AI presents false or misleading information as fact. Attorneys relying on AI case citations without verification risk professional embarrassment or, worse, malpractice. This alone reinforces the need for thorough attorney review.
Similarly, AI language models often generate legal arguments that, although written nicely, lack proper legal support. AI frequently fails to grasp the nuanced interplay of precedent, statutes, and jurisdiction-specific rules. Not only is this dangerous for attorneys, but also for clients. Clients are increasingly turning to AI tools for self-help legal advice, often with incorrect results. This issue underscores the importance of a strong attorney-client relationship to counter such misinformation.
Another troubling trend is attorneys, clients, and opposing parties copying and pasting AI-generated content directly into court filings and emails without review. AI-generated content often includes unique spacing and markings, which can undermine trust and professionalism and possibly lead to disciplinary action. Such carelessness can also expose strategic weaknesses in legal arguments. It is critical to remember that AI is a tool, not a substitute for critical thinking or professional judgment.
Additionally, attorneys and clients must protect confidential information when using AI tools. While some AI programs safeguard confidentiality, publicly available tools like ChatGPT should be used with the assumption that information is not protected. This is a vital consideration to maintain client trust and comply with ethical standards.
Positive Applications of AI in the Legal Field
Despite these challenges, AI offers significant benefits. One of its strongest applications is document summarization and review. AI tools can drastically reduce the time required to review hundreds of pages of documents. While attorney oversight is still necessary, these tools can quickly locate specific provisions, provide summaries, and guide focus to relevant information.
AI also excels at organizing thoughts, arguments, and correspondence. Language models can offer interpretations of particular issues or sets of facts, serving as a reference point to spark new ideas and considerations. This can streamline attorney brainstorming and improve case strategy development. Additionally, AI can assist with grammar and punctuation, ensuring proper language use in professional communications.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AI tools like ChatGPT are powerful allies to the legal profession, streamlining document review, organizing complex ideas, and offering new perspectives. Yet, AI integration comes with inherent risks that must be mitigated. Their pitfalls—false citations, unsupported arguments, and confidentiality risks—require competent attorney oversight. By embracing its strengths and guarding against its weaknesses, attorneys can responsibly leverage AI to improve efficiency while ensuring client trust and professional integrity.
Dye Culik is a corporate law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. We work with clients in NC, SC, MI, and MA to protect their business and assets, including consulting on artificial intelligence protections, guidelines, regulations, and incorporating AI policies into your company policy manual. Connect with us and mention this article for a complimentary consultation with Attorney Will Richter.