Screen a public legal tool for assisting the unauthorized practice of law
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- From the tool's screens and sample answers, list each place it states or implies that the user is receiving legal services or the help of a lawyer, and each place a user can obtain a document for a legal step. Do not rewrite the tool.
- What the lawyer must review
- Model Rule 5.5(a) says a lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so. The lawyer decides whether operating or assisting the tool would be that assistance. Formal Opinion 512 says lawyers may not leave it to a generative tool alone to offer legal advice to clients.
- Written for / version
- United States versionUS
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Consider narrowly defined preparation support after confirming the tool’s capability and permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Verify the applicable jurisdiction and the version of each relevant law, rule or instrument in force at the material time.
- Confirm the output against the client’s instructions and the complete relevant source material, including omissions or contradictions.
- Resolve exceptions and record the responsible lawyer’s approval of the exact output and intended use.