School of Law Program Explores Generative AI in Legal Practice
Saint Louis University School of Law hosted an afternoon continuing legal education program exploring the opportunities, risks, and ethics of generative AI. The event was designed for SLU LAW alumni and local practitioners and offered practical insights about how generative AI is reshaping legal work.
The program opened with an engaging and accessible presentation from Susan Tanner, an associate professor from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. She spoke on demystifying how AI models function, illustrating both the significant benefits they offer and their limitations. Her presentation traced the development of AI tools, explained their underlying mechanics, and addressed common misconceptions and concerns.
The two panels that followed focused on the ethics and implications of AI in legal practice. The first panel included Matt Braunell from Thompson Coburn, Joy Holley from Ameren, and Benjamin Siders from Lewis Rice. The group, moderated by Professor Michael-John Voss of SLU LAW, engaged in a robust discussion of how they use AI in their practice areas, speaking candidly about the need for internal policies and the myriad of efficiencies that AI can create. They focused on the practical risks, including accuracy issues and potential pitfalls in client communication, supervision, and what the future holds for the profession as these tools evolve.
The second panel featured members of the judiciary and Missouri's Legal Ethics Counsel who examined the ethical dimensions of AI use in the legal system. Drawing on the Missouri Supreme Court's legal ethics rules and the American Bar Association’s Formal Opinion 512, the panelists discussed the responsibilities lawyers and judges must consider when they engage in using or evaluating AI-generated work. Their conversation highlighted the importance of competence, diligence, candor and maintaining the integrity of the legal system.
Professors Deborah O’Malley and Michael-John Voss co-chair the newly formed Innovation and Technology Committee. They are joined by Professors Marcia Goldsmith, Yvette Liebesman, Karen Sanner and Michael Sinha. Dean Twinette Johnson charged the committee with advancing the School of Law’s engagement with emerging technologies and fostering collaboration between faculty, students, judges and practitioners through symposia, workshops and other programming.