OUR USE OF TOOLS

As part of our commitment to innovative practice and to help us to provide better service to our clients and potential clients, we use a variety of recording/transcription and artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Why We Use These Tools:

Based on The Code of Professional Conduct that governs lawyers in Manitoba, we have an ethical obligation to perform legal services to the standard of a competent lawyer. In today’s World, in our view, this means being competent in technology and taking an opportunity to deliver better and more efficient service utilizing technology. The use of AI allows us to improve the quality of our legal services or addressing inquiries from the public/potential clients.

Data Security Practices:

Data privacy and security are of utmost concern to us, and we maintain security and administrative controls over how AI tools are used within the Firm. We do not use any free versions of any AI tool. We take reasonable measures to protect your confidential information when using AI tools, including using only paid or subscription-based tools and enterprise- or business-tier plans (where available) with contractual data protection and “no training” enabled.

How We Use Tools:

All calls (even if you are not a client of our firm) and meetings may be recorded and transcribed and such recording/transcription may be analyzed through or by a variety of AI tools. We may also use AI tools to assist with reviewing call or meeting conversation to confirm discussions and instructions, document organization, drafting correspondence, and assisting in dealing with other administrative and analytical tasks.

AI and other tools are used to assist our attorneys and staff, but they do not replace the judgment and expertise of our legal team. We are still obligated and do exercise professional judgment utilizing any tool or output and maintain professional oversight of our AI outputs and remain fully responsible for the accuracy and appropriateness of our legal work product.

Limitations:

While we use tools and AI services with strong data and privacy protections, many of these tools are third-party cloud services that process your information on external servers. Although we believe our use of paid and (where available) business-tier services constitutes a reasonable care under applicable ethics rules, you should understand that using any cloud-based tool involves some level of data transmission to third parties.

Acceptance:

Unless you advise us at the beginning of the call or meeting not to use any recording/transcription and AI tools, you acknowledge and consent that we may record and transcribe any call or meeting and use AI tools at any time to assist us in providing services or information to you. If you have concerns about our use of any recording, transcription or AI tool, please discuss them with us. We are committed to transparency regarding our use of technology, and you may ask us about our AI practices at any time.

YOUR USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS

If you decide to records any of our calls or meetings or otherwise use any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, be advised that entering any confidential information, privileged communications, any of the communications that you may have with us or any work product (in whole or in part) into any artificial intelligence (AI) tool that is on a “free plan” or that does not have training turned off and have other data safeguards in place may result in the complete loss or waiver of a solicitor-client privilege (if you are an existing client), confidentiality protections, and other applicable expectation of privacy protections. This may include the possibility of the tool retaining, using, and disclosing the information entered (or its variations or output or product based on it) and being accessed by third parties.

You acknowledge that if you use any AI tool, any information generated by AI tools may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, misleading, or based on legal principles from other jurisdictions. If you are an existing client and provide to us or rely upon any AI generated content, research, draft documents, summaries, or analysis in connection with your matter, you agree that we may be required to verify, correct, or explain such content, and to address any resulting issues. If you are an existing client, you agree that such work may increase the time required to complete services and may result in additional fees, disbursements, delays, or inefficiencies, for which you will be responsible.