RESPONSIBLE LEGAL AI
How Can Small Law Firms Use AI Without Compromising Ethics?
Practical governance principles for AI-assisted intake at solo and small law firms.
Keep attorneys responsible for the system
Technology does not replace professional judgment or supervision. Attorneys should approve intake questions, disclosures, escalation rules, data handling, and the boundaries between administrative assistance and legal advice.
Limit sensitive information before conflicts are reviewed
Prospective clients may disclose confidential or strategically significant facts before the firm determines whether it can act. Intake should gather only what the firm needs at each stage and explain that representation has not yet been accepted.
Document vendor and data decisions
Review storage, retention, access, model-training terms, recordings, incident response, and subcontractors. Maintain testing records and a human escalation path for unusual or distressed callers.
Sources and further reading
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