There is an important distinction that every aspiring legal professional, and every new lawyer, must understand. AI can assist your work. It cannot assume responsibility for it.
A recent disciplinary decision involving a senior Ontario lawyer serves as a reminder of that principle. The lawyer relied on AI-generated case citations that proved to be inaccurate and, more significantly, misled the court about how those authorities had been prepared. The result was professional discipline in the form of a six-month suspension, not simply because AI had been used, but because the lawyer failed to meet the standards of competence, honesty, and integrity expected of every member of the profession.