Business of Law

Could New York City’s AI hiring law be a model for other U.S. city and state regulations?

As federal and state lawmakers grapple with generative artificial intelligence’s possibilities and risks, New York City may be the closest thing to a regulatory trailblazer.

Feb 1, 2024 2:10 AM CST

There are an abundance of options when it comes to law firm advertising on social media

With so many options, it’s possible that law firms and their marketing managers may be overwhelmed by all the platforms. Does it behoove lawyers to jump in and start promoting themselves on all the available networks?

Dec 1, 2023 2:30 AM CST

Law firms are getting a wake-up call as division over diversity roils America’s cultural debate

Conservatives got a boost from the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of affirmative action in college admissions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard—and they’re using it to expand their targets to include law firms’ diversity initiatives.

Dec 1, 2023 2:20 AM CST

It’s not too late to adopt a virtual or hybrid work model at your firm

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, offices worldwide have been compelled to adapt to virtual or hybrid work models, transforming the way businesses operate. While the urgency to implement these changes may have diminished since restrictions have become almost nonexistent, the impact of virtual and hybrid work environments continues to resonate strongly, particularly within the legal industry.

Dec 1, 2023 2:10 AM CST

Some attorneys are using ChatGPT to help them practice more efficiently

Attorneys across the globe are tapping into a not-so-secret resource that is saving them time, money and brain expenditure. They’re using generative artificial intelligence—specifically, large language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT—to perform a range of tasks.

Oct 1, 2023 3:30 AM CDT

How far should lawyers go to make sure their clients aren’t using them to launder money?

Some lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal, many of whom are former federal prosecutors, say people know they can launder dirty money under the cloak of attorney-client privilege and confidentiality rules, and real estate is an effective vehicle to do so.

Oct 1, 2023 3:20 AM CDT

Are law firm leaders having second thoughts on remote work?

Recent headlines suggest the flexible working arrangements many take for granted are not so settled in the minds of corporate CEOs and law firm leaders. Postings for remote work positions are waning despite high demand from applicants. That, combined with a softening economy, has some wondering if companies have newfound leverage to demand workers to come in.

Aug 1, 2023 2:40 AM CDT

Thanks to the pandemic, law firms have embraced remote e-discovery

Three years after the reviews went home, law firms are discovering that the remote model they once viewed with great suspicion can enhance rather than endanger their projects. As a result, reviews are showing no signs of ever returning exclusively to the back room.

Aug 1, 2023 2:30 AM CDT

Smaller law firms are bracing for the new pay transparency laws

The legal industry has long been criticized for pay inequality, especially when it comes to female and minority attorneys. But a recent spate of pay transparency laws may put an end to this, regardless of whether the firms like it.

Aug 1, 2023 2:20 AM CDT

TikTok ban might sting legal influencers, but they have plenty of other options

TikTok is trending for the wrong reason these days. In late March, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew after claiming the app, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is a national security threat because of its ties to the Chinese government.

Jun 1, 2023 2:30 AM CDT

Is the recent wave of law firm layoffs a sign of things to come?

Hiring partners seeking to rightsize their workforce have a lot on their minds right now. Too many lawyers? Too few? As with Goldilocks’ search for the perfect porridge, the answer can be elusive.

Jun 1, 2023 2:20 AM CDT

ChatGPT and other AI chatbots dominated the first fully in-person ABA Techshow in 3 years

ChatGPT was on the minds of vendors and attendees at the ABA Techshow 2023 in early March, when more than 1,700 people gathered for the ABA’s first fully in-person legal technology event in three years.

Jun 1, 2023 2:10 AM CDT

AI tools can help litigators pick jurors who might be on their side

A jury is considered the gold standard of U.S. law and a symbol of justice designed to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty in a fair, impartial trial. And now, artificial intelligence tools are available to help attorneys identify prospective jurors favorable to their cases. But do jury trials remain golden if one side uses AI to select the perfect jury to win?

Apr 1, 2023 3:10 AM CDT

The CHIPS Act could complicate things for lawyers with clients in China or Taiwan

One potential side effect of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 includes amped-up patent litigation as the shift to manufacturing microchips domestically makes them further subject to U.S. intellectual property law.

Apr 1, 2023 3:00 AM CDT

Zoom meeting fatigue can contribute to job dissatisfaction and a lack of productivity

Up to 80 million meetings per day. That’s an estimate of how many meetings are held just in the United States. Are we meeting too frequently? Maybe, particularly when there’s no agenda or there is one and people don’t stick to it, say lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal.

Apr 1, 2023 2:50 AM CDT