Law Firm Law Firm Technology and Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'artificial intelligence' (AI) currently being used for in US law firms?
- Legal research, contract review, due diligence, and document drafting assistance (Correct answer)
- Replacing attorneys entirely in complex litigation matters
- Serving as expert witnesses in technology cases
- Automatically filing court documents without attorney review
Correct answer: Legal research, contract review, due diligence, and document drafting assistance
AI tools (like Harvey, Casetext CoCounsel, and contract review platforms) assist attorneys with research, contract analysis, due diligence, and drafting — but require attorney supervision and review before use.
Question 2: What is 'knowledge management' (KM) in a law firm context?
- Systematically capturing and sharing the firm's institutional legal knowledge and best practices (Correct answer)
- Managing the firm's library and legal research subscriptions
- Tracking individual attorney skills for staffing purposes
- Maintaining client contact directories
Correct answer: Systematically capturing and sharing the firm's institutional legal knowledge and best practices
Knowledge management involves capturing precedents, model documents, practice guides, and lessons learned so attorneys can efficiently leverage the firm's collective expertise rather than recreating work from scratch.
Question 3: What does 'multi-factor authentication' (MFA) protect in a law firm's technology environment?
- Law firm accounts and systems from unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised (Correct answer)
- Client billing information from unauthorized charges
- Electronic court filing accounts from fraudulent submissions
- The firm's social media accounts from hacking
Correct answer: Law firm accounts and systems from unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised
MFA requires users to verify identity through two or more factors (password + mobile code) — even if a password is stolen, attackers cannot access firm systems without the second factor, protecting confidential client data.
Question 4: What is 'e-filing' in the context of US court practice?
- The electronic submission of court documents through the court's case management system (Correct answer)
- Scanning paper documents and emailing them to the clerk
- Filing documents as email attachments to the judge
- A billing code for electronically served discovery documents
Correct answer: The electronic submission of court documents through the court's case management system
E-filing allows attorneys to submit pleadings, motions, and other documents directly to the court's electronic system (such as federal PACER/CM-ECF) — it is now mandatory in most federal courts and many state courts.
Question 5: What is 'alternative fee arrangements' (AFA) in law firm pricing?
- Fee structures other than hourly billing, such as flat fees, fixed fees, or success-based fees (Correct answer)
- Fee waivers granted to nonprofit clients
- Court-approved fee schedules for appointed counsel
- Reduced rates offered to clients during economic downturns
Correct answer: Fee structures other than hourly billing, such as flat fees, fixed fees, or success-based fees
AFAs include flat fees, capped fees, blended rates, contingency fees, and success bonuses — they align attorney compensation with client outcomes rather than time spent.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of 'conflict of interest software' at a law firm?
- To search the firm's client and matter database to identify potential conflicts before taking on new clients (Correct answer)
- To monitor attorney communications for ethical violations
- To track opposing counsel relationships across matters
- To manage attorney pro bono hours and reporting
Correct answer: To search the firm's client and matter database to identify potential conflicts before taking on new clients
Conflict checking software searches the firm's existing client, matter, and party databases against new prospective clients and matters to identify potential conflicts under ABA Rules 1.7, 1.9, and 1.10.
Law Firm Law Firm Technology and Management 2
What is 'artificial intelligence' (AI) currently being used for in US law firms?