How I use AI in my practice.
AI is part of how I work, in more ways than one.
Some of it is baked into the everyday tools I use — Microsoft 365's Copilot, for instance — so it's switched on by default across the practice, the same way spellcheck or autocomplete is. I also use separate AI tools for drafting, research, and tidying up documents.
Unless you tell me otherwise, I use these without adding anything that identifies you — your name, details, or the specifics of your matter stay out of it.
If you're comfortable with me including your identifying information, that can work in your favour.
The more specific and complete the information, the less time I need to spend joining the dots myself, and that saves you money. It's entirely your choice, and either way I check, verify, and take full responsibility for anything AI helps produce before it goes near your file.
You're welcome to ask me not to use AI on your matter at all. I'll always honour that for the standalone tools I choose to use. However some AI is now so embedded in everyday software that it isn't always practical to switch off entirely – for example Microsoft 365 includes co-pilot by default.
Bear in mind too that AI saves me time, and time is the biggest cost in any legal fee — so opting out may mean things take longer, and cost more, than they otherwise would.
If you have any questions about how I use these tools on your file, just ask.
One red flag to consider.
The law on whether information typed into an AI tool could later be required to be disclosed (what lawyers call "discovery") in a dispute is not yet settled in New Zealand. Courts here are actively grappling with how AI is used in litigation.
It may be that even information you put into your own AI app on your own phone is discoverable – so please take care in your use if you think there is even a remote chance your matter could get to Court.
Let’s work together.
Please contact me, Lenny, if you would like to make an appointment or to discuss any of the information on this page.