ABA Formal Opinion 512
The American Bar Association's 2024 ethics opinion on generative AI in legal practice.
ABA Formal Opinion 512 is the 2024 opinion from the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility addressing the use of generative AI tools in legal practice. The opinion ties the use of AI to existing Model Rules on competence (1.1), confidentiality (1.6), communication (1.4), supervision (5.1 and 5.3), and reasonable fees (1.5).
Key takeaways: lawyers must understand the AI tools they use, protect client confidences, disclose AI use when reasonably necessary, supervise AI output, and bill only for time actually spent (not for the time the AI saved).
Read the plain-English Op. 512 explainer for solo attorneys, how to bill AI-assisted work honestly, and the state-bar AI ethics opinions that build on it.