CSU Law Library Blog

The ABA Rules of Professional Conduct, Model Rule 1.1 Comment 8 requires, “To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer shall keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.” To that end, we have developed this regular series to develop the competence and skills necessary to responsibly choose and use the best technologies for your educational and professional lives. If you have any questions, concerns, or topics you would like to see discussed, please reach out to e.koltonski@csuohio.edu.

Have you ever had one of those months where you’re being pulled in a thousand directions and just can’t seem to get everything done? That’s been my month. With all the talk of ChatGPT and AI in the news, it seemed like a great topic to cover but I just couldn’t manage to get everything together. Instead, I chose to use ChatGPT.

The following is the prompt that I gave ChatGPT and the response that it gave me. I made no changes to the chatbot’s response, even though it did go thirty-seven words over my target.

Next month, we will look more closely at chatbots and AI and get a better understanding of the topic. Take it away, ChatGPT!

My prompt:

“Write a 300 word essay about how technology has changed the United States legal system in the 21st century. Cite two information sources in APA format.”

ChatGPT’s response:

Technology has revolutionized the legal system in the United States in the 21st century. The widespread adoption of technology has changed the way the legal system operates, from the way legal research is conducted to the way trials are held. This has led to increased efficiency and improved accuracy in the legal system.

One of the key ways technology has changed the legal system is through the use of electronic databases for legal research. Attorneys no longer have to spend countless hours combing through paper-based legal books and journals. Instead, they can now quickly search for relevant cases and laws using online databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw (National Center for State Courts, 2017). This has made legal research faster and more efficient, allowing lawyers to make informed decisions more quickly and with greater accuracy.

Another way technology has changed the legal system is through the use of electronic filing systems. Courts now have the ability to receive, store, and manage legal documents electronically, reducing the need for physical filing systems and increasing the speed and accuracy of the process (National Center for State Courts, 2017). This has allowed the legal system to become more efficient and has reduced the chances of errors and delays in the legal process.

In addition to these changes, technology has also had a significant impact on the way trials are conducted. The use of video conferencing and other technological tools has allowed for virtual trials, which have made the legal process more accessible and convenient for everyone involved. This has also made it possible for legal proceedings to take place in a timely and cost-effective manner, even in cases where the parties involved are located in different parts of the country (National Center for State Courts, 2017).

In conclusion, technology has had a profound impact on the legal system in the United States in the 21st century. It has increased efficiency and improved accuracy in the legal process, and has made the legal system more accessible and convenient for everyone involved.

References:

National Center for State Courts. (2017). The Impact of Technology on the Legal System. Retrieved from https://www.ncsc.org/topics/court-management/impact-of-technology-on-the-legal-system.

Kane, E. (2021). How Technology is Revolutionizing the Legal System. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/elenakane/2021/03/22/how-technology-is-revolutionizing-the-legal-system/?sh=23f2a84a3c3d.

Want to practice your legal research skills and learn some new ones? How about getting a certification to add to your resume? If you answered yes, consider Lexis Legal Research Certification. The certification is an excellent way to prove you can perform online legal research efficiently and effectively to potential employers.

There are two parts to the certification: Proficiency Certification to reinforce the research lessons learned in your law school research and writing class, and Practice-Ready Certification to learn the practical research skills attorneys use every day in the practice of law.

Also, don’t forget that the CSU|LAW Library provides numerous Legal Research Seminars to help you get up to speed. Our seminars cover Lexis and Westlaw resources, effective searching on Lexis and Westlaw, Bluebooking, Administrative Law, Legislative History, Family Law, Foreign Law, HeinOnline resources, Online Research, Law Library Study Aids, and the Scholar Catalog.

Digital Media Law offers a practical guide to the law of online and digital media. The target audience for this book is both established media and newly emerging online venues and outlets.

The book contains a news section that applies some of the legal principles discussed to real world events. This easy-to-read guide also covers major topics such as freedom of speech, defamation, privacy, and commercial speech.

The author, Christopher S. Reed, is an expert in media law who researches and teaches the subject and has experience in the industry.

The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to hear the appeal of a Parma man, Anthony Novak, who sued the city’s police department after being arrested for creating a fake police Facebook page that lampooned the department (2023 WL 2123743).

Novak sued the city after his acquittal, arguing the city violated his First Amendment rights to free speech. The Sixth Circuit sided with Parma, (33 F.4th 296), saying that qualified immunity shielded the city from civil liability.

The Supreme Court’s decision will allow the lower courts’ decisions to stand.

ProQuest has a website titled Black Freedom Struggle in the United States. The site contains newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence, FBI records and more from six specific time periods in U.S. history:

• Resistance to Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement (1790-1860)
• The Civil War and the Reconstruction Era (1861-1877)
• Jim Crow Era from 1878 to the Great Depression (1878-1932)
• The New Deal and World War II (1933-1945)
• The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements (1946-1975)
• The Contemporary Era (1976-2000s)