Bob West served as the sole presenter for the National Business Institute’s one-hour seminar titled "Ethical Issues With Using ChatGPT & Generative AI in Legal Practice," which was presented to 28 lawyers. Bob provided an overview of generative AI and large language models, explained how these tools generate output and why they produce hallucinations, and reviewed the leading sanctions case, Mata v. Avianca. He then addressed the top ethical considerations under ABA Formal Opinion 512 and the ABA Rules of Professional Conduct, covering competence, client communication, confidentiality and privilege, fees, supervision, candor to the tribunal, and the unauthorized practice of law. Bob outlined a framework for implementing an AI policy. He closed with the emerging liability posed by AI bias in hiring and employment decisions, discussing Mobley v. Workday and the applicable civil rights statutes.
