Hello all, we had a very busy January, which led us to skip an issue of this Newsletter.
Both of us co-chaired, hosted, and presented at a full-day CLE hosted by Minnesota CLE on writing with AI. Legal professionals recently had the opportunity to enhance their skills at the cutting-edge CLE seminar, “Legal Writing in the Age of AI,” which took place on Monday, January 27, 2025. This comprehensive event and online replay proved to be an invaluable experience for attorneys looking to revolutionize their legal writing process by combining human expertise with artificial intelligence. Participants left the seminar equipped with practical knowledge on leveraging AI tools to produce higher quality writing more efficiently, ultimately providing greater value to their clients.
Seminar Highlights
The full-day program covered a wide range of topics crucial for modern legal writing:
AI-Enhanced Legal Writing Foundations:
Attendees learned about the impact of digital consumption on legal readers’ expectations and how AI can elevate writing quality. Judge Edward T. Wahl provided a practical overview of effective legal writing principles, emphasizing plain language, clarity, and structure.
Strategic AI Implementation:
David J.F. Gross, a Design Thinking leader, offered insights on transforming litigation writing using AI. Participants explored various AI-powered legal writing tools and learned to select the right tool for specific tasks.
Interactive Workshops:
The seminar featured hands-on sessions, including:
- An interactive workshop on writing effective AI prompts led by Spiwe L. Jefferson
- A DIY writing workshop demonstrating the use of generative AI platforms for creating various legal documents
Ethical Considerations:
A bonus lunch session addressed critical ethical issues surrounding AI use in legal practice, covering topics such as candor to the court, competent client representation, and confidentiality.
Research and Document Analysis:
Damien A. Riehl presented on integrating AI-backed technologies to improve legal workflows and power data analytics, enhancing research and practice efficiency.
Practical Tips:
The seminar concluded with valuable writing tips for both new and experienced lawyers adapting to AI tools, presented by Terrance C. Newby.
This successful event not only provided 6.75 CLE credits (including 0.5 ethics credit) but also equipped attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of legal writing in the AI era. For more information, visit: https://www.minncle.org/seminar/2549782501
Neven Selimovic also presented at the 2025 Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association’s (MDLA) Mid-Winter Conference on January 26, 2025. Neven’s presentation dove into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in insurance defense with this overview of all things AI. Designed for attorneys navigating the intersection of technology and legal practice, the presentation:
- Demystified common AI tools and terminology in the legal field;
- Highlighted potential pitfalls and ethical considerations, including confidentiality, bias, and compliance with professional standards; and
- Showcased a practical AI demonstration tailored for insurance defense applications.
Tools, Programs, and Applications Used in the Seminars:
Both seminars featured a wealth of knowledge on all things AI, including several available tools that you can use right now in your legal field. Those include
- AGI like Perplexity, Claude, or ChatGPT: AGI were used to showcase the power of writing, re-writing, and generating content to streamline your workflows. This includes generating legal documents and summarizing them.
- AI Podcasting: Harness the power of AI to create realistic and compelling podcasts from your PDFs. This is a great tool to help visualize and hear the story of your writing. It’s wonderful for marketing too.
- BriefCatch: BriefCatch is an advanced legal writing editor designed to enhance the quality of legal documents. It is a powerful tool trusted by Supreme Court Justices, top law firms, law schools, and countless lawyers worldwide
- vLex: An online research and AI platform that has caselaw data like Lexitas and Westlaw, which uses AI solutions designed to empower legal professionals, streamline workflows, and provide unparalleled access to the knowledge and resources necessary for success.
Monthly Image Prompt
Darth Vader reimagined as legal-writing attorney in colorful 60s mod fashion and cartoon style
Monthly AI Litigation Prompt
Create a comprehensive timeline of events based on the provided documents, focusing on [the key facts]. For each entry in the timeline:
- Include the date of the event.
- Provide a concise description of the action or decision.
- Specify which party (Plaintiff, Defendants, or identified third party) took the action.
- Cite the source document and specific page number(s) for each entry within the body of the response.
- Format the timeline chronologically, using bullet points for each event. Ensure that the timeline provides a clear overview of the case’s progression, emphasizing [key facts].
The resulting timeline will provide a comprehensive overview of the events, making it easy to identify patterns and potential issues in the case’s progression.
February’s Cool (and Not Necessarily New) Tech Tool and Recommend
ToolForThat.io is a website that helps developers and tech professionals find the right tools for their projects. Users can describe their needs, and the platform suggests relevant solutions. The site features a curated collection of popular tools and maintains a “Most Displayed” section showcasing frequently accessed resources. It also includes a “Featured” section with handpicked recommendations. The platform essentially serves as a discovery engine for technical tools, making it easier for builders to find appropriate solutions for their specific requirements.
Podcast/Media of the Month
“The Evolution of AI in Legal Tech“
Atena Reyhani, a product leader at legal tech company ContractPodAi, explains how AI is changing how legal work gets done. She talks about tools that let people interact with AI through simple chat-style interfaces (like texting a smart assistant) instead of complicated menus. Instead of basic chatbots, she sees future AI acting more like teams of specialized tools that work together automatically to handle complicated tasks like contract reviews or compliance checks.
Her company’s AI tool, Lea, now helps businesses track rules and deadlines beyond just contracts. Soon, they’ll launch a “Lea Marketplace”—think of it like a central app store where companies can find AI tools tailored to their industry’s legal needs. Reyhani also highlights hurdles: businesses often struggle to match AI tools to their specific workflows and need proper training and planning to use them effectively.
Law Journal Article
“Humility—A Path to More Persuasive Legal Writing“ (by Bret Rappaport)
Here’s a 99-word revision with improved flow and accessibility:
This study challenges legal writing norms by demonstrating how intellectual humility strengthens persuasive impact. It reframes humility not as weakness, but as a strategic communication tool that:
- Builds credibility through balanced argumentation
- Enhances message reception via reduced bias perception
- Creates durable persuasion through psychological engagement
The analysis progresses through three key phases: establishing humility’s modern definition as active intellectual openness, connecting this trait to audience trust metrics, and ultimately presenting a “confident humility” writing model. Supported by empirical data, this approach offers lawyers concrete methods to avoid both arrogance and false modesty while maximizing argument effectiveness across legal contexts.
