By Eric Deitz
A recent ABA ethics opinion addresses the demands that arise when preparing a client to testify and during their testimony. The ABA issued Formal Opinion 508 on August 5, 2023.
A sense of belonging is priceless. The DEI Division at the SDCBA has created a space for lawyers and the legal community to use their different perspectives and backgrounds to actively work against all forms of racism and discrimination within the legal profession and the justice system. Diversity not only fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity, but also brings a wealth of perspectives and ideas that benefit the legal community as a whole.
By Shelly Skinner
Nowadays, it’s hard for a lawyer to ignore the ubiquity of social media and its potential to impact clients’ cases. Some jurisdictions have even said that a lawyer’s duty of competence includes competence with social media.[1]
Last week, I was chatting with a white gentleman who is 80 years old. We were discussing racism and his experiences growing up in the south. Aside from sharing the incredible life experiences he had, he explained how racism was sometimes subtly introduced and ingrained from childhood. The example he provided was the well-known “eeny meeny miney mo” counting song. The original did not say “tiger.” It was another word that also ends in -ger. And, I learned that the last two lines were “if he hollers make him pay/ fifty dollars every day.” I was shocked.
By Pauline Villanueva
If you’re reading this, stop.
By Edward J. McIntyre
One would have to have been living on another planet not to recognize that generative AI is upon us —and all the rage. Whether ChatGPT, Bing A.I., Bard or some other platform, it’s hard to miss the proliferation of information — and misinformation — about large-learning-model platforms. They’ll either miraculously transform the way we work, recreate, communicate — or will destroy it. Rest assured, there’s only more to come.
For years, I did not know about the San Diego County Bar Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the San Diego County Bar Association. Of course, as became involved in SDCBA leadership I became aware of the Foundation and its vision. The Foundation’s core mission is to provide access to justice and promote public understanding by providing grants to organizations that advocate for people and communities in our region that are impacted by poverty, abuse and discrimination.
The Foundation raises money and makes grants to local organizations that fulfill its mission of providing legal access and education. And as a testament to the Foundation’s commitment, it has given back over $5.5 million to the San Diego community. In 2022 alone, the Foundation gave a very impressive $448,500 to 24 local nonprofits. Click here to see a list of the organizations the Foundation helps support.
If you know of a legal aid or public interest nonprofit providing services within the county of San Diego, let them know that applications for the general grant cycle will be accepted through September 1, 2023. To be eligible for grant funds the applicant must (1) facilitate and expand the availability of legal services; (2) improve the administration of justice and the San Diego court system; and/or (3) promote public understanding of the law.
The Foundation’s funds come from the generous contributions of local legal and business communities directly or through various fundraising programs throughout the year, such as:
• Distinguished Lawyer Memorial
• An Evening in La Jolla
• Cy Pres Settlement Awards
• Planned and Legacy Gifts
• Give a Billable Hour Campaign
• Other general Support
SDCBA members can donate to the Foundation when renewing membership by checking the box to give to the Foundation. If you auto-renew, like I do, you may never see the box that enables to you donate, so think about supporting the Foundation’s mission by giving in one of the ways listed above, or by going to the Foundation’s website to contribute.
And by the way, an Evening in La Jolla is a wonderful event which features great food and desserts, and a silent auction. This year’s event is on September 23, 2023, at the Scripps Aquarium. I hope to see you there.
Melissa Johnson
SDCBA President
By Brandon Kimura
Artificial Intelligence has long been imagined by both science and popular culture. With the release of ChatGPT to the public, AI is now reality and its potential application in every industry is evolving daily. The law is no exception. From applying AI to discovery, to allowing AI to argue in court, AI is here, as are the ethical issues that arise from its use. Thankfully, while the problems AI poses may be novel, at least some of the ethical answers appear to be comfortably traditional.
By Megan M. Moore, Attorney Career and Business Coach
By Timothy Casey
Modern artificial intelligence tools offer the promise of quick and efficient solutions to complex questions. General applications such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing A.I., Google’s Bard and law specific applications such as CaseText’s CoCounsel are based on advanced, deep-learning, language-based artificial intelligence. These applications use generative artificial intelligence that analyzes massive data sets to provide natural language responses to questions submitted by human users. While these tools may offer advantages over existing computer assisted research tools such as Lexis and Westlaw, there are unseen dangers as well.
