ABA Formal Opinion 533: AI-Generated Work Product

ABA Formal Opinion 533 (Dec 2024) supplements Opinion 512 by addressing lawyer duties when AI tools generate attorney work product.

Key provisions

Lawyer review

The lawyer must:

1. Substantively review all AI-generated output before relying on it
2. Verify citations independently
3. Ensure factual accuracy of any AI-generated content
4. Confirm legal analysis aligns with current law
5. Maintain responsibility for the final product

Citation verification

Lawyer must verify each citation:

1. Existence (does the case exist)
2. Pinpoint accuracy (does it support the proposition)
3. Current validity (no subsequent history that overturns)
4. Quote accuracy (if AI quoted)
5. Court alignment

Client communication

Lawyer must:

1. Disclose AI use in engagement letter
2. Explain AI limitations to client
3. Maintain client confidentiality through AI use
4. Document AI assistance for the matter

Implementation patterns

Working patterns:

• Engagement letter language for AI use
• Per-matter AI use log
• Per-filing AI audit log
• Citation verification checklist

Acknowledgments

ABA Formal Opinions 512 (2024) and 533 (2024).

Dillon Deutsch. https://courtgpt.ai