Artificial intelligence is rapidly being integrated into everyday legal workflows—from drafting and research to client communications—but many attorneys are unknowingly exposing themselves to ethical risk in the process. The issue is not simply whether to use AI, but how it is used and under what conditions. Different platforms—and even different subscription tiers within the same platform—carry materially different terms governing data usage, retention, and confidentiality, which can directly impact compliance with professional obligations.

This CLE program examines the ethical implications of AI adoption through a structured, risk-based framework that categorizes common legal tasks according to their sensitivity and exposure. Using that framework, the program evaluates the suitability of major AI tools, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, with a focus on how specific plan features align (or conflict) with duties of confidentiality, competence, and supervision.