AI and Legal Ethics

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered legal tools are beginning to be used in Canada by lawyers as well as directly by the public. This chapter outlines the risks and opportunities that arise from lawyer-use and public-use of legal AI tools, with an emphasis on the ethical duties of lawyers found in professional codes of conduct and the law societies’ regulatory mandate to prevent the unauthorized practice of law. Changes to professional codes of conduct, proactive law society measures, and new approaches to regulating public-use legal technology tools are discussed as potential means to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks arising from using AI to deliver legal services or to meet legal needs.

Keywords: AIi; legal ethics; lawyers; canada; legal tech