On August 12, 2019, the ABA passed Resolution 112 urging courts and lawyers to address the emerging ethical and legal issues related to the usage of artificial intelligence in the practice of law including: (1) bias, explainability, and transparency of automated decisions made by AI; (2) ethical and beneficial usage of AI; and controls and oversight of AI and the vendors that provide AI. As explained in Nicolas Economou’s article below, the question of how the legal profession tackles its use of these new tools is going to be a hot topic – and one that will be addressed globally, not just locally. Something all of us should be thinking about.
The DC meeting is literally around the corner and we have some great stuff planned. Once again, we will join the Cyberspace Committee and others for dinner Thursday night. The Grill from Ipanema will offer authentic Brazilian food and great company. We are sponsoring two programs. "Data Processes for Efficient Client Services" on Thursday morning, organized by Douglas Eyre, is our second data series program. Megan McGrew of Baker Donelson, Orrick CINO Wendy Butler Curtis, and Kyle Hoover of Seyfarth Lean will dig into the details of legal process planning. On Friday afternoon, Aileen Leventon chairs "Running your Law Firm with Proven AI Applications from the Business World." Decision Options CEO Gill Eapen, Winston & Strawn's Gwen Watson, and Husch Blackwell's Kevin Bielawski will join her to present case studies on how to use prediction systems to help run a legal practice.
Our committee meeting itself is scheduled for 8:00 am Friday morning. Don’t be late – Fastcase CEO Ed Walters will be joining us for the first part of the meeting. Ed is one of the most influential players in the legal innovation world and we are very lucky that he is able to find the time to talk with us about the work going on in case analysis. The rest of the committee meeting will be mostly devoted to discussing Resolution 112 and specifically the question of what constitutes evidence of competence for use of AI in the legal system.
Looking forward to your joining us in D.C.!
Warren Agin, Chair