Lawyers must keep a critical eye on the AI they use in their work - failure to do so could lead to violations of the MRPC!

Earlier, we discussed how "Apple Intelligence, made headlines for all the wrong reasons when it generated a false news summary attributed to the BBC 📰❌”. Now, a recent BBC study has exposed serious flaws in AI-generated news summaries, confirming what many tech-savvy lawyers feared—AI can misinterpret crucial details. This raises a significant issue for attorneys relying on AI tools for legal research, document review, and case analysis.

As highlighted in our previous coverage, Apple’s AI struggles demonstrate the risks of automated legal processes. The BBC’s findings reinforce that while AI is a valuable tool, lawyers cannot blindly trust its outputs. AI lacks contextual understanding, often omits key facts, and sometimes distorts information. For legal professionals, relying on inaccurate AI-generated summaries could lead to serious ethical violations or misinformed case strategies. (Amazingly, the sanctions I’ve reported from Texas and New York seem light thus far.)

The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct emphasize that lawyers must ensure the accuracy of information used in their practice. See MRPC Rule 3.3: Candor Toward the Tribunal. This means AI-assisted research should be cross-checked against primary sources. Additionally, attorneys should understand how their AI tools function—what data they use, their limitations, and potential biases. See MRPC 1.1[e].

Human oversight by lawyers over the ai they use is a cornerstone to maintaining accuracy in their and ethical compliance with the Bar!

To mitigate risks, legal professionals should:
✅ Verify AI-generated content before using it in legal work.
✅ Choose AI solutions designed for legal practice, not general news or business applications, e.g., LawDroid.
✅ Stay updated on AI advancements and legal technology ethics, and stay tuned to The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Blog and Podcast for the latest news and commentary on AI’s impact on the practice of law and more!
✅ Advocate for AI transparency, ensuring tech providers disclose accuracy rates.

The legal field is evolving, and AI will continue to play a role in law practice. However, as the BBC study highlights, human oversight remains essential. Lawyers who embrace AI responsibly—without over-relying on its outputs—will be best positioned to leverage technology ethically and effectively.

MTC