How We Use AI in Our Law Practice

Written By Amanda Bynum

Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. From phones to cars to customer service, AI has quickly become part of everyday life. It’s no surprise that people are starting to ask the same question about lawyers:

Are attorneys using AI? And if so… should I be worried?

The short answer is: Yes, we use AI — carefully, ethically, and with attorney oversight at every step.
The longer (and more important) answer is below.

AI Is a Tool — Not a Lawyer

Let’s start with what AI is not.

AI is not a lawyer.
It cannot represent you in court.
It cannot exercise legal judgment.
It cannot make strategic decisions about your case.

It cannot replace the experience, training, and professional responsibility of a licensed attorney.

In our practice, AI is treated the same way we treat other tools lawyers have always used— such as legal research databases, document templates, dictation software, and case-management systems. It is a support tool, not a decision-maker.

Why We Use AI at All

Lawyers spend a significant amount of time on tasks that are necessary but not strategic: organizing information, summarizing records, formatting documents, and creating first drafts.

When used responsibly, AI can help with those background tasks so that attorney time is spent where it matters most:

  • Legal analysis

  • Case strategy

  • Client communication

  • Courtroom advocacy

In other words, AI helps us work smarter, not lazier — and that benefits our clients.

How AI Is Used in Our Practice

We use AI in limited, controlled ways to assist with the practice of law. Examples include:

  • Legal research support (helping identify issues, cases, or statutes to review — never as a substitute for independent legal research)

  • Drafting assistance for first drafts of letters, motions, or internal documents

  • Organizing and summarizing information, such as discovery, transcripts, or case timelines

  • Workflow efficiency, including document organization and administrative support

AI helps us get from blank page to first draft more efficiently. What it does not do is finalize legal work or make decisions on your behalf.

Attorney Review Is Mandatory — Every Time

This is the most important part.

Every piece of work generated with AI is reviewed, edited, and approved by an attorney before use.

Nothing goes to a client, a court, or a third party without attorney oversight. The attorney remains fully responsible for:

  • Accuracy

  • Legal sufficiency

  • Ethical compliance

  • Strategic decisions

If something is incorrect, unclear, or inappropriate, it is corrected or discarded — just as it would be with any other draft prepared by a human assistant.

Confidentiality Still Comes First

Confidentiality is a core duty of any attorney, and using AI does not change that obligation.

We take reasonable steps to protect client information when using technology, including:

  • Limiting the type of information shared with AI tools

  • Avoiding unnecessary identifying details when possible

  • Using AI only as part of a secure, attorney-controlled workflow

AI is never used to replace attorney-client communication, legal advice, or judgment calls that require nuance and context.

Ethical Rules Still Apply — Fully

Lawyers are bound by ethical rules regardless of the tools they use. That includes duties of:

  • Competence

  • Confidentiality

  • Diligence

  • Candor

  • Professional judgment

Using AI does not reduce those responsibilities — if anything, it increases the need for care and oversight. We stay informed about evolving guidance on AI use in the legal profession and adjust our practices accordingly.

What This Means for Clients

For clients, responsible AI use means:

  • Efficiency: Less time spent on administrative tasks

  • Cost-effectiveness: Reduced attorney time where appropriate

  • Focus: More attention on strategy, advocacy, and outcomes

  • Transparency: Clear disclosure about how technology is used

It does not mean:

  • Automated legal advice

  • “Robot lawyers.”

  • Cutting corners

  • Reduced accountability

Your attorney is still your attorney — fully engaged, fully responsible, and fully accountable.

The Bottom Line

AI is changing many professions, including law. Ignoring it entirely would be unrealistic. Using it without safeguards would be irresponsible.

Our approach is simple: use AI thoughtfully, ethically, and only in ways that serve the client’s best interests — with attorney judgment at the center of every decision.

If you ever have questions about how technology is used in your case, we welcome those conversations. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of effective legal representation.

Amanda Bynum
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