Angela Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, leader of Ward and Smith's Intellectual Property Practice Section and an AI Governance Professional, was recently featured in theWilmington Business Journalfor her perspective on artificial intelligence in the legal industry.
In her article, Angela brings almost twenty years of hands-on experience working with both law and technology. She dives into how artificial intelligence is reshaping legal work, offering new tools for document review, legal research, and even predicting case outcomes, while spotlighting the real risks tied to ethics, privacy, and copyright.
Angela makes it clear that while AI can help lawyers work smarter, it isn't a substitute for good judgment. She notes:
"There is not a single tool that I would recommend using as the basis for legal decisions without substantial human oversight. Attorneys have an ethical duty of competence, which now includes understanding AI's capabilities and limitations. Delegation is not an option; as attorneys, we have an ethical obligation of technology competency. Our State Bar has been clear that it is our duty to keep up with all technology used in practice, including AI."
She also stresses the need for ongoing education and training so all lawyers—no matter their level of experience—can stay on top of these changes.
To read more about Angela's perspective on how AI can enhance legal work, check out her full article, "Promise, Peril and the Path Forward: Legal Industry AI".