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ABA Techshow

Lawyers Must Enhance Their Skills in the Era of Generative AI

By Julianne Hill

April 5, 2025, 9:15 am CDT

In the past, the use of technology among legal professionals primarily revolved around simple tasks like correcting grammar and spelling errors or automating standard documents. Lawyers were relatively sheltered from the necessity of extensive technology training. However, the landscape has dramatically shifted with the introduction of generative artificial intelligence—a sophisticated but challenging tool that can produce content that may sound credible but lacks accuracy and reliability.

At the recent ABA Techshow, experts discussed how generative AI can enhance productivity and efficiency among lawyers. However, they emphasized that it also necessitates a heightened sense of vigilance and ethical awareness. During the panel titled “Defining Technology Competency in the Age of Generative AI,” Ivy B. Grey, chief strategy and growth officer for WordRake, pointed out, “If you’re relying on experiences from earlier technological tools, you’re likely going to be disappointed.” It’s important for lawyers to comprehend that the ethical implications of using advanced AI tools are multifaceted.

According to ABA Model Rule 1.1, legal professionals have a fundamental obligation to utilize technology in an ethical manner. Competence, as defined by this rule, requires attorneys to grasp the intricacies of technology, understand both its risks and benefits, stay updated with innovations, and actively develop their skills to achieve proficiency, stressed Kenton Brice, director of the law library and associate professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. His insights remind practitioners that the responsibility of proactivity in evaluating how these tools function lies squarely on their shoulders.

The Journey Toward Competency

Attaining a high level of technological competence is a journey, not a destination. Brice elaborated on this process by highlighting various stages of competency, beginning with “unconscious incompetency,” where individuals are unaware of their lack of knowledge. As they gain insight through training, they reach “conscious incompetency,” realizing that they have only scratched the surface of what they need to learn—an awareness that can lead to frustration and complacency.

“Don’t stay there,” Brice urged. “Level up.” Ultimately, the goal for attorneys is to reach a state of “consciously competent” or fluent familiarity with technology, as mandated by ABA’s Formal Opinion 512, which provides direction on the ethical use of generative AI in legal practice.

Continue following the ABA Journal’s updates from ABA Techshow 2025 here.

Step-by-Step Approach to Gaining Competence

In her presentation, Grey provided a clear action plan for attorneys eager to enhance their competency in using generative AI. “First and foremost, maintain attentiveness to technological advancements,” she advised. As new iterations of tools emerge at an unprecedented pace, lawyers must evaluate how these changes can better serve their clients’ needs.

Kenton Brice (left) and Ivy B. Grey were panelists at ABA Techshow 2025. (Photo by Julianne Hill/ABA Journal)

Next, attorneys should understand the specific risks and advantages associated with the generative AI technologies relevant to their fields. For litigators, for instance, there’s a pressing need to be adept in using e-discovery tools from a position of competence.

Grey highlighted the importance of skillful tool use, stating, “Be clear on what you aim to achieve and ensure that you choose the right tool for the job.” Transparency with clients about the usage of generative AI is also paramount; attorneys should obtain consent to disclose any information or undertake experiments involving new technologies. This responsibility extends to recognizing that interconnected AI tools could inadvertently expose proprietary information.

Furthermore, employing professional judgment and a critical lens when evaluating AI-generated advice is crucial. With the capability of generative AI to draft complete briefs, there is a temptation for lawyers to overly rely on these tools without sufficient scrutiny before submitting documents to the court. “Just because something is possible doesn’t mean it’s advisable,” Grey remarked.

To mitigate potential risks, Grey proposed a structured workflow she termed the “sandwich” method. In this approach, human input is engaged at the beginning and the end, while generative AI manages the workflow in the middle. Attorneys should begin by consulting secondary sources to deepen their understanding, followed by crafting informed prompts for AI-generated content. Rather than accepting the initial output at face value, lawyers should continually refine and expand upon it with specific prompts, effectively coaching the AI throughout the process.

In the final steps, attorneys must meticulously edit and fact-check the AI’s output, ensuring that the final document reflects their insights and critical thinking. Even though using generative AI raises numerous considerations, legal practitioners should feel empowered rather than intimidated by the technology’s complexities.

Support From AI legalese decoder

To further assist lawyers in navigating these changes, the AI legalese decoder can serve as an essential resource. This innovative platform clarifies complex legal jargon, allowing attorneys to better understand the technology at hand and its implications for their practice. By translating technical language into more comprehensible terms, the AI legalese decoder empowers lawyers to make informed decisions regarding the integration of generative AI in their workflows.

Moreover, the AI legalese decoder aids lawyers in developing clear and effective prompts, ensuring that they can communicate their objectives to the AI accurately. With such support, attorneys can enhance their skills and foster a collaborative relationship with technology, ultimately elevating their practice to meet the demands of the modern legal landscape. In a time when technology is pivotal to legal practice, harnessing the power of tools like the AI legalese decoder can pave the way for a future where legal professionals thrive alongside advancements in artificial intelligence.