In a recent Texas Lawyer article, Litigation Partner William Sentell and Associate Sam Zatz explain how artificial intelligence is reshaping legal practice and why lawyers must learn to use it ethically to stay competitive. They highlight the Texas Bar’s Ethics Opinion No. 705, which underscores that existing professional duties — competence, confidentiality, and oversight — apply fully to the use of generative AI. The opinion warns against risks such as client data exposure and fabricated case citations, making clear that lawyers remain accountable for verifying AI outputs. At the same time, William and Sam emphasize the opportunities AI presents, from streamlining discovery to enhancing litigation strategy, noting that responsible adoption can strengthen advocacy and client service. They argue Opinion 705 provides an ethical foundation that allows litigators to embrace AI as a valuable tool rather than fear it.

The authors wrote, "Ultimately, Opinion 705 is not a barrier to progress but rather provides the necessary ethical guardrails for litigators to fully embrace the benefits of generative artificial intelligence. By addressing core concerns around competence, confidentiality, and oversight, the opinion should give Texas litigators the confidence to leverage these tools to enhance efficiency, improve legal strategy and provide better service to their clients. By automating some of these processes, AI allows litigators to move beyond tedious tasks and focus on what truly wins cases: providing superior counsel to their clients, developing strong legal strategies, and crafting winning arguments."