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Navigating the AI Landscape for legal Professionals

Understanding the Resistance to AI in Law

Many lawyers are eager to harness the potential of artificial intelligence, yet numerous hesitations linger. Concerns about malpractice exposure, misinformation (often referred to as "hallucinations"), breaches of confidentiality, and reliance on a seemingly unreliable tool dominate conversations. For many attorneys, the leap into effective AI use often feels like a journey into the unknown.

In my experience working with attorneys from diverse legal specialties, I’ve observed a recurring trend: those who struggle the most with AI often treat it as a simplistic search engine. They pose broad questions, receive generic responses, and quickly conclude that the AI lacks comprehension of the nuances of their specific issues. This can lead to one of two outcomes: they abandon AI altogether or persist in its ineffective use, inadvertently heightening their risk.

Embracing AI as a Dialogue, Not Just a Tool

It’s crucial to understand that AI operates more effectively as a dialogue rather than merely a search bar. The output quality directly reflects the specificity and clarity of the input provided by the lawyer. Engaging with AI should be akin to an interactive conversation, where the focus lies on constructing informative contextual foundations.

One fundamental technique I emphasize is the Curiosity Prompt, which serves to enhance the reliability of AI interactions. This technique encourages lawyers to invite further inquiry rather than making assumptions about what the AI inherently understands.

The Curiosity Prompt Technique

A Simple, Effective Line

The Curiosity Prompt can be summarized in one straightforward line: “Ask me what else you need to know to provide me with the most accurate response.”

This approach shifts the lawyer‘s mindset from passively hoping that the AI understands the question to actively directing it to identify the relevant context. Rather than taking on the burden of guessing which facts to include, the lawyer encourages a more collaborative interaction, soliciting clarifying questions akin to how a supervising attorney would guide a junior associate through the research process.

Benefits of the Curiosity Prompt

1. Enhancing Output Accuracy: By using the Curiosity Prompt, lawyers improve the precision of AI-generated responses, as well-informed input leads to better-informed output.

2. Reducing Hallucinations: Hallucinations often arise from a lack of sufficient context, resulting in inaccurate conclusions. Engaging the AI with follow-up questions minimizes this risk and allows for a more balanced investigation into the relevant facts.

3. Retaining lawyer Control: Since the AI seeks further input, lawyers remain the primary repository of essential facts and constraints, preventing unwarranted assumptions from being made by the AI.

4. Reflecting Existing Practices: This technique aligns with how lawyers currently train junior associates by nurturing a culture of inquiry before embarking on research or drafting tasks. The AI becomes an additional supervised assistant rather than an independent decision-maker.

5. Creating Reliable Baselines: Rather than replacing legal analysis, AI accelerates initial thought processes, supporting tasks like outlining issues, identifying risks, and summarizing legal concepts that may be unfamiliar.

Prioritizing Confidentiality

The effectiveness of the Curiosity Prompt magnifies when lawyers uphold the same confidentiality standards across the technology they use. Confidential client information should never be input into a public AI system. It is essential to approach the information sharing in a manner that retains privilege while providing just enough context for the AI to inquire meaningfully about the case.

For instance, instead of inputting sensitive client specifics, consider general descriptions that maintain confidentiality.

1. Avoid: “My client Sarah is suing her business partner for embezzling $400,000.”
2. Instead: “I am dealing with a partnership dispute involving allegations of financial misconduct.”

Best Practices for AI Usage

To utilize AI safely, consider adopting practices such as:

• Anonymizing names and identifiable details within client cases
• Altering nonessential facts that do not impact the legal interpretation
• Using enterprise AI products with robust confidentiality protections
• Keeping sensitive work within secure environments controlled by the firm

When AI is approached in this controlled manner, it serves as a safe and effective thought partner, allowing lawyers to maintain oversight while enhancing their strategic engagement and inquiry.

Practical Applications of the Curiosity Prompt

Lawyers are already leveraging this method in myriad practical contexts. Here are five examples:

1. Early-Stage Research

Prompt: “I am taking on a probate matter for the first time. Ask me what you need to know to prepare a high-level overview of the key issues.”
The AI can tailor its inquiries about jurisdiction, type of proceeding, and client posture, resulting in a custom, structured framework.

2. Drafting Client Communications

Prompt: “I need to explain a complex procedural issue to a client in plain language. Ask me what else you need to know to help draft this explanation clearly.”
AI can identify the tone, urgency, and client sophistication, aligning the outcome with lawyer expectations.

3. Planning for Challenging Conversations

Prompt: “This is the situation with opposing counsel. Ask me what else you need to know to help me strategize.”
Through follow-ups, AI can uncover potential unspoken factors that are pivotal to the case.

4. Testing legal Positions

Prompt: “Here is how I am considering positioning this argument. Ask me what else you need to know and subsequently challenge my assumptions.”
This fosters a thorough analysis of potential weaknesses and uncertainties.

5. Creating Professional Materials

Prompt: “Here is my background. Ask me what else you need to know to create a compelling professional biography.”
AI’s probing often extracts valuable details that contribute to the lawyer‘s credibility.

Gaining a Professional Edge

Attorneys who derive the most benefit from AI are not merely those who use the most sophisticated tools but those prepared to engage in thoughtful discourse. They embrace the opportunity to think out loud, provide specific context, invite clarifications, and oversee AI’s output with the same diligence they would apply to their human staff.

The Curiosity Prompt encourages lawyers to interact with AI in a manner that reflects traditional legal practices—through inquiry, oversight, and intentional framing. AI is not a replacement for legal judgment; instead, it acts as a catalyst for efficiency and clarity in legal preparation.

A Vision for the Future

The lawyers poised for success in the coming decade are those who do not wait for AI to feel "safe" but instead invest in understanding how to effectively guide, supervise, and interact with this powerful tool—using it to augment their expertise rather than to replace it.

A single question can significantly alter the AI experience: “Ask me what else you need to know.” This subtle shift transforms AI from a mere guessing tool into a collaborative partner in clear thought and strategy.

Conclusion

The comprehensive landscape of AI within the legal profession opens unprecedented avenues for efficiency and clarity. Leveraging tools like AI legalese decoder can enhance the understanding of complex legal jargon and facilitate smoother communication, ultimately empowering lawyers to navigate their cases with confidence and insight.

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Brooke Loesby is a former BigLaw attorney and the founder of Law Life Coach Inc., where she assists legal professionals in redefining success through strategic career development and initiatives that promote well-being.

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ABAJournal.com is currently seeking thoughtful, nonpromotional articles from unpaid contributors for publication in the Your Voice section. Details and submission guidelines can be found at “Your Submissions, Your Voice.”

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