LibGuides: Legal Research and Writing Guide: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Your Courses and the Practice of Law (New!)

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your Courses and the Practice of Law

NAU Academic Integrity Policy

NAU Academic Integrity Policy June 14, 2023
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarizing and/or cheating on assignments, tests or projects; misusing artificial intelligence (AI); or assisting someone else in these actions.

The NAU Academic Integrity Policy states, "[u]sing AI to generate graded activities without having been explicitly instructed to do so is in violation of NAU's Academic Integrity Policy."

Using Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law

Caveat: ChatGPT and other large language models often produce inaccurate information ("hallucinations") - do not use AI to research legal authority, i.e.cases, statutes, court rules, tribal or municipal codes, or search for factual information. Read the articles linked below for tasks AI can perform.

Mata v. Avianca, Inc., No. 22-cv-0146, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108263, __F. Supp. 3d ___, 2023 WL4114965 (S.D.N.Y. 2023)
Order granting sanctions against an attorney who cited and submitted copies of opinions "hallucinated" ("made up") by ChatGPT in support of a motion).
Why Large Language Models Hallucinate
IBM Expert Martin Keen explains what an LLM (AI) hallucination is, why LLMs hallucinate, and how to minimize hallucinations. [YouTube: 9 m, 37s]

AI Tools for Lawyers: A Practical Guide
This October 2023 article from the Minnesota Law Review "provides practical and specific guidance on how to effectively use AI large language models (LLMs), like GPT-4, Bing Chat, and Bard, in legal research and writing."
ChatGPT and Fake Citations
This blog post from Duke University outlines research and writing tasks for which ChatGPT should be used and those tasks for which ChatGPT should not be used. Examples: do not ask ChatGPT for a list of sources or to write your paper, but use it to provide ideas for a particular topic, or revise an awkward sentence.
Stacking the Deck
This ABA Journal article explores how artificial intelligence (AI) tools help attorneys identify prospective jurors favorable to their case.
Office Aide
ChatGPT can perform these tasks for attorneys: generate ideas for a firm's website or blog, refine and proofread language in documents and correspondence, and structure a deposition. From the ABA Journal.
Chatbot Lawyer
In this ABA Journal article, Bryan Garner includes an example of incorrect information provided by a chatbot about a historical event, and suggests using a chatbot to write a thank you letter, a congratulatory letter, or even a demand letter.. But the lawyer remains "in control of what goes into the final product."