2023 Year in Review: AI innovations and the quest for better legal billing

As 2023 draws to a close, let’s reflect on a year that has seen remarkable strides—and changes—in legal technology. The legal profession, often criticized for its reluctance to embrace change, witnessed an unprecedented shift in attitudes, largely as a result of the generative artificial intelligence revolution. These generative AI tools, ranging from sophisticated contract review and lifecycle management to intelligent legal assistants, are redefining how work gets accomplished in law firms.

Nov 28, 2023 8:30 AM CST

How fully remote work has enabled me to thrive in the face of adversity

My daughter was diagnosed with cancer on Nov. 2, 2020. She had just turned 3 months old. I was visiting my family in Idaho while on maternity leave from my BigLaw job in Washington, D.C., when we got the news. Devastated and confused, we took her to St. Luke’s Children’s Cancer Institute in Boise and barely emerged for months.

Nov 27, 2023 11:28 AM CST

Judge tosses UPL suit against ‘robot lawyer’ DoNotPay, saying law firm plaintiff was not harmed

A small law firm didn’t have standing to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all U.S. firms against “robot lawyer” DoNotPay for the unauthorized practice of law, a federal judge in Illinois has ruled.

Nov 21, 2023 2:56 PM CST

Ban on approaching or recording hunters violates First Amendment, 7th Circuit says

Citing the First Amendment, a Chicago-based federal appeals court has struck down changes to a Wisconsin “hunter harassment law” that bans recording and approaching hunters.

Nov 21, 2023 9:32 AM CST

The convergence of e-discovery, compliance, data privacy and cybersecurity

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Eric Robinson, the vice president of global advisory services and strategic client solutions at software company KLDiscovery.

Nov 20, 2023 1:38 PM CST

Lawyers learn too late that chatbots aren’t built to be accurate; how are judges and bars responding?

At least two lawyers who apparently used artificial intelligence chatbots to write legal documents ended up losing their jobs after the output included phony case citations.

Nov 17, 2023 2:11 PM CST

6th Circuit refuses to toss special master for ‘mild criticism’ in his mistaken ‘reply all’ email

A federal appeals court has rejected a bid to toss a special master from opioid litigation because of a mistaken “reply all” email that included his private notes.

Nov 16, 2023 12:08 PM CST

Thomson Reuters announces new AI initiatives and CoCounsel integration

Thomson Reuters announced Wednesday several new generative artificial intelligence products to aid in legal research while promising additional tools in 2024.

Nov 15, 2023 11:07 AM CST

How this lawyer uses TikTok to skewer law firm culture

In the past decade, influencer culture has exploded. However, content creation is not just about Gen Zers and millennials promoting new brands, hot products and lifestyle choices.

Nov 15, 2023 8:39 AM CST

CS Disco announces partnership with vLex to use law library in case management software

Legal technology company CS Disco has entered into a long-term licensing agreement with vLex company Fastcase to use the company’s large law library for “end-to-end” software for the practice of law.

Nov 9, 2023 1:28 PM CST

Biden’s executive order on AI has ‘extensive to-do list’ for Homeland Security

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on artificial intelligence this week that is intended to reduce security risks, protect privacy and prevent use of the technology to discriminate.

Nov 2, 2023 9:25 AM CDT

Should the US reform a key foreign intelligence program? ABA members join the debate

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. It outlined procedures for electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes and established the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to hear applications for and grant orders approving electronic surveillance.

Nov 1, 2023 11:13 AM CDT

DOJ will connect with pro bono tech platform

Updated: The U.S. Department of Justice has partnered with technology platform Paladin Partners to boost DOJ attorneys’ engagement with pro bono work, the company announced Monday.

Oct 24, 2023 3:45 PM CDT

Navigating the future of knowledge and know-how with generative AI

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Kelly Lake, the CEO and executive director for CEB: Continuing Education of the Bar, a California-focused provider of legal research and continuation legal education.

Oct 23, 2023 8:58 AM CDT

Hip-hop star seeks new trial over lawyer’s alleged use of artificial intelligence to draft closing argument

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a member of the hip-hop group Fugees, has said he is entitled to a new trial partly because his former lawyer used an experimental artificial intelligence program to draft an inadequate closing argument.

Oct 18, 2023 12:53 PM CDT