The Florida Bar has taken a pioneering step by issuing an 18-page advisory opinion, offering attorneys a comprehensive roadmap for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their legal practices. This initiative, spearheaded by F. Scott Westheimer, the bar’s president and a partner at Syprett Meshad in Sarasota, marks a significant stride in merging technological innovation with ethical legal practice.
The Drive for Ethical AI Integration
Westheimer emphasized that this groundbreaking tool, a key focus of his term, is crucial due to the dual nature of AI—its potential benefits and inherent risks for the legal community. “We’re at the forefront of technology and lawyer regulation in the country,” Westheimer said, highlighting the need for ethical considerations and education in AI utilization within legal frameworks.
Brian Burgoon, chair of the board review committee on professional ethics and a partner at Burgoon Law in Atlanta, Georgia, elaborated that the opinion addresses deep learning models and their data input. He identified four critical areas covered: confidentiality, oversight of generative AI, lawyer advertising, and legal fees and costs.
Key Areas of Focus in the Advisory Opinion
- Confidentiality Concerns: The opinion cautions attorneys on the need to safeguard client information, as mandated by Rule 4-1.6 of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. The concern is that client data might be inadvertently stored and later disclosed by AI programs. However, Jan Jacobowitz, a legal ethics professor at the University of Miami School of Law, noted that informed client consent and the use of in-house AI could mitigate these risks.
- Oversight of Generative AI: The bar advises treating AI usage similarly to delegating tasks to associates or paralegals, stressing the importance of firm policies governing AI use. This includes delineating which functions can be delegated to AI and which cannot.
- Advertising with AI: The bar urges caution in using AI chatbots for advertising and intake, holding attorneys responsible for any misleading information provided by the chatbots. It is essential for attorneys to disclose to prospective clients that they are interacting with an AI program and avoid making unsubstantiated claims about the superiority of their AI technology.
- Ethical Considerations in Billing: The opinion specifies that attorneys may only charge clients for actual costs incurred on their behalf. Overcharging, such as billing for manual hours that were actually reduced due to AI efficiency, is deemed unethical.
Navigating New Terrain
Francisco Ramos Jr., a partner at Clarke Silvergate, noted that while initial judicial hesitance towards AI use in legal settings has diminished, proper usage is now the focus. He anticipates future discussions on attorney fees related to AI, predicting a shift in billing practices as AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows.
Conclusion: A Paradigm Shift in Legal Practice
The Florida Bar’s advisory opinion is a landmark development, guiding attorneys on navigating the ethical complexities of AI integration into their practice. As AI continues to evolve, these guidelines serve as a crucial framework for ensuring that its application in the legal domain is both effective and ethically sound, preserving the integrity of the legal profession while embracing technological advancement.
