Large Law Firm Sends Panicked Email as It Realizes Its Attorneys Have Been Using AI to Prepare Court Documents
Feb 21, 2025 - futurism.com
Morgan & Morgan, a prominent law firm, issued a warning to its attorneys after two lawyers were caught citing fictitious court cases generated by an AI model. The firm emphasized the importance of independently verifying AI-sourced cases to maintain the integrity of legal work. This incident occurred during a lawsuit against Walmart, where the lawyers cited fake case law, blaming an internal AI tool for the error. The firm has not banned AI usage but stresses the need for careful verification, as AI's tendency to produce authoritative-sounding falsehoods poses significant risks.
The incident highlights broader concerns about AI's role in legal settings, with similar issues arising in at least seven cases over the past two years. Despite the potential benefits of AI, its propensity for errors and the false sense of security it provides can lead to significant professional embarrassments. In response, Morgan & Morgan now requires attorneys to acknowledge the risks of AI by clicking a confirmation box in its AI tool, though skepticism remains about the effectiveness of this measure.
Key takeaways:
Morgan & Morgan issued a warning to its attorneys after two lawyers cited fake court cases generated by AI.
The firm advises lawyers to independently verify AI-generated citations to maintain legal integrity.
The incident involved a lawsuit against Walmart, with the lawyers blaming an internal AI tool for the error.
Morgan & Morgan now requires attorneys to acknowledge AI risks by clicking a box in its AI tool.
