---
title: "Using generative AI in Michigan legal practice: ethics checklist"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/ai-decision-systems/us-mi-genai-ethics-checklist"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a45-us-mi-genai-ethics-checklist"
area_id: "A45"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-11-08"
---

# Using generative AI in Michigan legal practice: ethics checklist

> Checklist of what Michigan's own sources say about lawyers using generative AI: the State Bar's AI FAQs on competence, consent before entering confidential data, verification, and billing only actual time.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/ai-decision-systems/us-mi-genai-ethics-checklist  
Law stated as at: 2026-11-08

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [AI decision systems](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/ai-decision-systems.md)
- Jurisdictions: United States, Michigan
- AI level: Yellow. You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at: 2026-11-08
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-11-08 against the 3 authorities it cites, for United States and Michigan.

## When to use it

Use when a Michigan lawyer or firm sets up, audits or trains staff on generative AI use. The State Bar of Michigan's AI FAQs are the main source; they say they are neither legal advice nor an ethics opinion. Pair it with the firm's AI policy, engagement letter and citation-checking procedure.

## How AI may be used

A tool may list the firm's AI tools and match them to each point; a lawyer confirms the Michigan sources are current, decides whether each point is met and signs off.

**AI may:**

- List the firm's AI tools and the matters they are used on, from the firm's own register
- Match each tool to the checklist points and flag points with no control
- Draft staff reminders that quote the named Michigan sources accurately

**AI must not:**

- Must not mark a point as met, a source as current or a citation as checked
- Must not decide whether a tool's terms protect confidential client information
- Must not add duties that the named sources do not state
- Must not treat this checklist as a substitute for the named sources or for a later opinion, rule or order

**The lawyer checks:**

- The current version of each named Michigan source has been confirmed
- The forum's local rules, standing orders and the assigned judge's orders have been checked for AI requirements
- Federal court rules and orders have been checked separately for any federal matter
- Each AI tool's terms of use and privacy policy have been read for access to inputs, retention and training use
- Any AI tool cost the firm passes on is disclosed in the engagement letter before the engagement starts

## Authorities

- [State Bar of Michigan, Artificial Intelligence for Attorneys: Frequently Asked Questions (18 November 2024; fees answer of 11 February 2025)](https://michbar.org/opinions/ethics/AIFAQs)
- [State Bar of Michigan, Transforming the Legal Profession in the Age of AI (Board of Commissioners AI Workgroup special report, 2025)](https://www.michbar.org/News/NewsDetail/nid/6137)
- [Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.1, comment on maintaining competence (technology)](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/492c94/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/rules-of-professional-conduct/michigan-rules-of-professional-conduct.pdf)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/ai-decision-systems/us-mi-genai-ethics-checklist and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*