Model Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for Law Firms

AI is here to stay. Rather than trying to stop attorneys from using AI, law firms should establish a comprehensive AI policy to guide usage and set clear guidelines for attorneys and staff alike.

Read more about essential provisions that should be included in an AI policy here and view a model AI policy for law firms below.

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear guidelines for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within [Law Firm Name]. This policy establishes the principles, procedures, and controls governing AI use across our practice.

This policy applies to all attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, contractors, interns, and third-party service providers that utilize AI tools in connection with work performed on behalf of the firm.

AI tools may be used for the following tasks, provided human oversight is maintained at all times:

• Legal research support and summarization
• Drafting non-final legal memos, letters, client, and internal communications
• E-discovery assistance
• Document review
• Timekeeping, billing, and administrative tasks
• Social media, marketing, and non-legal content generation

All outputs must be reviewed and approved by a qualified legal professional before being relied upon or shared externally.

The following uses of AI are strictly prohibited without prior written approval from firm leadership:

• Providing legal advice directly to clients
• Generating legal opinions
• Relying on AI-generated analysis or legal conclusions without human review
• Uploading confidential, privileged, or sensitive client data to unvetted AI platforms
• Using AI tools for surveillance, bias-based profiling, or unethical decision-making
• Generating contracts, pleadings, or client deliverables without attorney review

The use of AI within the firm must always align with all applicable professional and ethical obligations including, but not limited to, guidance issued by the American Bar Association and the [State] bar. Attorneys remain fully responsible for the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of any work product, regardless of whether AI tools were used in its creation. AI must never be used to replace legal judgment, mislead clients or courts, or circumvent rules of professional conduct.

Only anonymized or non-sensitive data may be used with AI tools unless expressly approved. No client-identifiable information shall be entered into public or unsecured AI tools. All prompt inputs must be treated as potentially discoverable and safeguarded accordingly. All AI platforms must be reviewed and approved by the firm’s IT and compliance teams.

AI vendors must demonstrate compliance with applicable privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and legal industry data security standards.

Attorneys must evaluate whether the use of AI in client work requires client disclosure under the Rules of Professional Conduct. Where AI use could materially affect the legal advice or outcome, or where it may involve sensitive client information, attorneys must consider whether informed client communication or consent is ethically required.

[Law Firm’s] executive leadership oversees AI governance and retains final authority to approve tools, monitor use, and ensure legal and ethical alignment. Before adopting any AI system, the firm will assess legal, ethical, operational, and cybersecurity risks. Annual audits will be conducted to ensure compliance with this policy.

All AI-assisted work remains subject to the same standards of care, diligence, and legal ethics as traditional legal services. Attorneys are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and appropriateness of any content produced using AI. Any errors or risks identified in AI-generated outputs must be corrected and reported immediately. Failure to report identified errors or risks may result in corrective action.

The firm will provide training and guidance on proper AI usage, tools, and risk management.
All staff must complete AI ethics and compliance training covering:

• Ethical risks, including bias and misinformation
• Regulatory compliance and professional responsibility
• Safe and effective prompt engineering
• Use case examples relevant to trade law and enforcement

Ongoing training will be provided annually or as needed based on updates to the firm’s AI tools or policies.

Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and may carry legal consequences if client rights or legal standards are compromised.

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as AI technologies, ethical standards, and regulatory frameworks evolve.