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

# Using generative AI in New Mexico legal practice: ethics checklist

> Checklist of what State Bar of New Mexico Formal Opinion 2024-004 and the New Mexico Courts' interim AI guidelines for legal professionals say about lawyers using generative AI.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/ai-decision-systems/us-nm-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, New Mexico
- 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 2 authorities it cites, for United States and New Mexico.

## When to use it

Use when a New Mexico lawyer or firm sets up or audits its use of generative AI, and before any lawyer or staff member starts using it. The opinion says policies and training should come first.

## How AI may be used

A tool may list the firm's AI tools and match them to each point; a lawyer confirms the New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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

## Authorities

- [State Bar of New Mexico Ethics Advisory Committee, Formal Ethics Advisory Opinion 2024-004: Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law (issued 24 September 2024)](https://sbnm.org/Portals/NMBAR/GenAI%20Formal%20Opinion%20-%20Sept_2024_FINAL.pdf)
- [New Mexico Courts, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Courts: Interim Guidelines for Legal Professionals (sent to the judiciary on 7 May 2026, with the Chief Justice's memorandum of 16 March 2026 on AI note-taking)](https://humanresources.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/63/2026/07/Artificial-Intelligence-AI-in-the-Courts.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-nm-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.*