As artificial intelligence tools become more integrated into the typical legal workflow, attorneys face new opportunities—and new ethical responsibilities. One key area is AI-assisted fact extraction, where advanced systems like Casefleet's Document Intelligence automatically identify people, dates, events, and other key entities in legal documents.

While this technology enhances efficiency and insight, it also raises important questions about professional responsibility. Just because AI can help, how do you know you're using it ethically?

Let's break down three ethical must-knows for any attorney using AI-assisted fact extraction in their practice.

1. Duty of technological competence

Since the ABA updated Model Rule 1.1, attorneys are expected to stay current not only on the law but also on "the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology."

AI-powered tools like fact extraction can support this duty—but only when used thoughtfully. Competent use means understanding how the technology works, recognizing its limitations, and knowing when to step in and manually verify results.

Consider this scenario: An AI system flags "March 15, 2023" as a critical contract deadline in a 200-page merger document. But what if the AI missed the amendment on page 187 that pushed the deadline to March 30th? A technologically competent attorney would verify this crucial detail rather than rely solely on the AI's extraction.

It's not just about using AI—it's about using it responsibly.

2. Supervision doesn't stop with humans

Building on this foundation of competence, we must recognize that AI tools require the same level of oversight as any team member. Think of AI as your newest paralegal. It might be fast, but it needs oversight.

If your AI flags a date as a key event, and it turns out to be irrelevant, who's responsible? You are.

Here's a real-world example: Imagine your AI extracts "John Smith fired on December 1st" from an employment dispute file. But what if the full context reveals it was "John Smith fired the starting gun on December 1st" at the company's charity race? Without proper supervision, you might pursue the wrong legal theory entirely.

Supervision means reviewing AI outputs, checking for context, and making sure your client's case isn't being guided by a machine's best guess. Are you confident in your current oversight process?

3. Don't surrender judgment to the machine

This leads us to perhaps the most critical consideration and the line AI should never cross: replacing your professional judgment.

AI can surface facts and highlight patterns, but it's still up to you to determine what matters, shape your strategy, and tell your client's story. Even with advanced tools that extract key information, the attorney must remain in full control of how insights are interpreted, prioritized, and used.

Consider a personal injury case where AI identifies 47 medical appointments in the plaintiff's records. The technology can extract dates and providers, but can it determine which appointments relate to pre-existing conditions versus accident-related injuries? Can it assess the credibility implications of gaps in treatment?
These nuanced judgments remain firmly in the attorney's domain. AI is a powerful resource—but the decisions are yours to make.

Embracing AI ethically

So, how do we move forward responsibly? Tools like Casefleet's Document Intelligence empower legal teams to uncover relevant facts faster and more accurately. When used ethically, they can strengthen an attorney's ability to represent clients effectively while maintaining the core principles of the legal profession.

To practice ethically with AI:

• Stay educated on how the technology works.
• Supervise its use and confirm its outputs.
• Always exercise independent judgment.

By balancing innovation with responsibility, attorneys can future-proof their practice without compromising their ethics. The question isn't whether AI will transform legal practice—it's whether we'll guide that transformation ethically.