Mentoring relationships are important for the professional development of lawyers, but they are often not prioritized in today’s fast-paced legal profession. Generative artificial intelligence can transform mentoring relationships for lawyers and professionals across various industries. Generative AI can provide personalized learning experiences tailored to the needs of each mentee, based on their background, skills, and…
The American Bar Association House of Delegates has adopted new rules regarding due diligence obligations for lawyers
The American Bar Association House of Delegates has adopted new rules regarding due diligence obligations for US lawyers. The proposed changes to Model Rule 1.16 will explicitly outline lawyers’ due diligence obligations to inquire about and assess the facts and circumstances of a matter, helping them avoid unknowingly getting involved in clients’ criminal and fraudulent…
Access to justice and legal services regulatory reform
Sandefur, R. L., & Denne, E. (2022). Access to justice and legal services regulatory reform. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 18, 27-42. Researchers have launched a new era of studies exploring relationships between legal services regulation and access to justice. These scholarly developments respond to recent changes in how Anglo-American jurisdictions regulate the practice of…
IAALS publishes series on what it takes to reach minimum lawyer competence
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, has published a series on what is required for minimum competency as a lawyer. The study identifies 12 interlocking “building blocks” that define minimum competence in the legal profession and how current licensing systems must be improved to reflect what new lawyers actually do…
2Civillity in Illinois, USA, provides a ‘how to’ guide for using AI as a lawyer
2Civility has published a how to guide for lawyers interested in getting started using generative AI such as ChatGPT. This guide includes a step by step guide on how to access ChatGPT on both desktop and mobile devices. The guide then explores effective ChatGPT prompts for summarising content, drafting litigation and drafting marketing content. The…
AI is increasingly important in law firms, but does it have a place in law schools?
In the legal profession, the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT remains uncertain. Law schools and faculty members are currently grappling with the decision of whether to allow students to use these AI applications in their coursework. While AI is already deeply integrated into legal practice, generative AI goes beyond traditional tools…
New US legal admissions pipeline helps initially rejected applicants to become law students
In the US 22 law schools have developed a new admissions pipeline, ‘LexPostBacc’, specifically for prospective students who were initially rejected during the admissions process. This year-long program offered by these law schools aims to prepare aspiring lawyers, particularly minorities candidates, for the rigors of legal education. Participants must either be from an underrepresented ethnic…
National Bar Association survey finds black female lawyers in the US continue to experience high rates of discrimination
A National Bar Association (NBA) survey finds black women lawyers continue to experience high rates of discrimination and bias. During 2022, 163 members of the NBA WLD and other Black women’s legal organizations were surveyed. The survey found that 70% of Black women lawyers had experienced or witnessed discrimination and bias in the workplace. The…
To be a good lawyer, one has to be a healthy lawyer
Lawson, N. D. (2021). ” To Be a Good Lawyer, One Has to Be a Healthy Lawyer”: Lawyer Well-Being, Discrimination, and Discretionary Systems of Discipline. Geo. J. Legal Ethics, 34, 65. In 2017, a National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being comprised mostly of representatives from lawyer assistance programs (LAPs) issued a report recommending “modify[ing] the rules of…
To Be a Good Lawyer, One Has to Be a Healthy Lawyer
Lawson, N. D. (2021). ” To Be a Good Lawyer, One Has to Be a Healthy Lawyer”: Lawyer Well-Being, Discrimination, and Discretionary Systems of Discipline. Geo. J. Legal Ethics, 34, 65. In 2017, a National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being comprised mostly of representatives from lawyer assistance programs (LAPs) issued a report recommending “modify[ing] the rules of…