AI, Ethics, and the Future of Legal Billing (On-Demand)

Course Description

In this CLE, attorney Mathew Kerbis examines the ethical obligations lawyers face when using AI tools, focusing on Model Rules 1.1 (technological competency) and 1.5 (avoiding wasteful procedures). You’ll learn the critical differences between consumer-grade AI tools like ChatGPT and purpose-built legal AI solutions, understanding when each is appropriate and how to avoid common pitfalls like hallucinations. Through real-world examples, the course demonstrates practical applications including semantic search, document analysis, and efficient client service delivery using tools. The presentation also addresses how AI is making the billable hour obsolete, with 75% of billable tasks projected to be automated, and explores alternative billing models like subscriptions that provide predictable revenue while serving the underserved legal market. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or part of a larger firm, this course equips you to use AI competently, ethically, and profitably in your practice.

Syllabus

1. Understand your ethical obligations for AI competency and efficiency
2. Learn to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate AI tools for legal work
3. Master practical AI applications including semantic search and document analysis
4. Explore alternatives to billable hours and the subscription model for legal services
5. Discover strategies to serve the underserved latent legal market
6. Prepare your practice for an AI-powered future