A fellow attorney friend told me about the moment when one of her clients paused in a meeting to consult ChatGPT regarding their legal approach. She described hearing the client’s nails clacking on a keyboard. Her supervising partner started to say something, stopped and then asked:
“Are you using ChatGPT by any chance?”
The client said, “Yes, and it says right here that your strategy to . . .”
I don’t really need to finish that story, do I? Because in 2026, I would put money down that many attorneys have had a similar — if not identical — interaction.
Since that watershed moment in November of 2022 when OpenAI released ChatGPT for public consumption, generative AI has become an all-in-one pocket doctor, therapist, lawyer and priest for many consumers. So, what are we to do, especially if we are new attorneys, in this age of AI?
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00IntellectualPropertyhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngIntellectualProperty2026-03-03 16:21:562026-03-09 16:29:13Becoming an Associate in the Age of AI
I recently had lunch with a good friend where I, for the first time, spoke seriously about my retirement. By way of background, I am fifty-one years old and have been practicing law since 2001. My wife works for a large financial institution, and we have two sons, ages ten and twelve. But why would you care about my retirement? Well, because of the nature of our legal practices, I think it’s something that some lawyers struggle with, and I’m hoping to avoid that.
For the last ten years or so, I have casually mentioned retiring at age fifty-five. (If my own math works out, I will retire around fifty-seven.) Reactions to my talk of retirement have ranged from eyes nearly popping out of heads to subtle laughs to talk of wishful thinking. I like to think these reactions stem from the fact that many of us have not truly contemplated the end of our careers, in part, because like so many other professionals and maybe to an even greater degree, we feel defined by our professions.
In recent months, several SaaS salespeople began our Zoom and Teams meetings online with what appeared to be additional invitees on the call. The additional invitees turned out to be recording features, but none of these salespeople provided advance warning nor did they request consent to record our calls. When I requested removal of any recording and transcription feature, at least one salesperson initially responded that their organization adds it to all calls by default and he did not know how to remove it. This experience raises important legal considerations, especially when none of the parties to the call or meeting adds the recording device.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Privacy and Data Securityhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngPrivacy and Data Security2025-09-16 10:19:132025-09-16 16:29:12Before You Hit "Record," Transparency Comes First
Becoming an Associate in the Age of AI
Featured PostsA fellow attorney friend told me about the moment when one of her clients paused in a meeting to consult ChatGPT regarding their legal approach. She described hearing the client’s nails clacking on a keyboard. Her supervising partner started to say something, stopped and then asked:
“Are you using ChatGPT by any chance?”
The client said, “Yes, and it says right here that your strategy to . . .”
I don’t really need to finish that story, do I? Because in 2026, I would put money down that many attorneys have had a similar — if not identical — interaction.
Since that watershed moment in November of 2022 when OpenAI released ChatGPT for public consumption, generative AI has become an all-in-one pocket doctor, therapist, lawyer and priest for many consumers. So, what are we to do, especially if we are new attorneys, in this age of AI?
Read more
Retirement
Featured PostsI recently had lunch with a good friend where I, for the first time, spoke seriously about my retirement. By way of background, I am fifty-one years old and have been practicing law since 2001. My wife works for a large financial institution, and we have two sons, ages ten and twelve. But why would you care about my retirement? Well, because of the nature of our legal practices, I think it’s something that some lawyers struggle with, and I’m hoping to avoid that.
For the last ten years or so, I have casually mentioned retiring at age fifty-five. (If my own math works out, I will retire around fifty-seven.) Reactions to my talk of retirement have ranged from eyes nearly popping out of heads to subtle laughs to talk of wishful thinking. I like to think these reactions stem from the fact that many of us have not truly contemplated the end of our careers, in part, because like so many other professionals and maybe to an even greater degree, we feel defined by our professions.
Read more
Before You Hit “Record,” Transparency Comes First
Featured PostsIn recent months, several SaaS salespeople began our Zoom and Teams meetings online with what appeared to be additional invitees on the call. The additional invitees turned out to be recording features, but none of these salespeople provided advance warning nor did they request consent to record our calls. When I requested removal of any recording and transcription feature, at least one salesperson initially responded that their organization adds it to all calls by default and he did not know how to remove it. This experience raises important legal considerations, especially when none of the parties to the call or meeting adds the recording device.
Read more