A generic AI acceptable use policy leaves a law firm exposed on the issues that matter most: attorney-client privilege, client outside counsel guidelines, court AI-disclosure orders, bar ethics duties, and billing. This editable template is written specifically for law firms. It gives you a full, plain-language AI use policy with [bracketed] blanks you fill in for your firm — approved tools, client requirements, roles, and dates — so you can adopt real AI governance in an afternoon and defend it to a bar regulator, a malpractice carrier, or a demanding client.
Who needs this
Any law firm — solo to BigLaw — that lets lawyers or staff use AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or legal research assistants on client work. Especially firms with corporate clients whose outside counsel guidelines now restrict or ban AI, and litigation practices facing court AI-disclosure orders.
What's inside
- A complete, ready-to-adopt AI use policy with fill-in-the-blank fields for your firm
- A confidentiality and attorney-client privilege section that keeps client data out of unapproved and public AI tools (ABA Model Rule 1.6)
- A client consent and outside counsel guidelines (OCG) section that operationalizes each client's AI restrictions
- A prohibited-uses list covering unreviewed work product, unauthorized practice, and public-model privilege risks
- A human-review and competence section addressing hallucinated case law and ABA Model Rule 1.1
- Billing rules aligned with ABA Formal Opinion 512 — no charging for AI efficiency or general AI learning time
- A court-disclosure section for standing orders and AI-use certifications
- Security, incident-reporting, roles, review cadence, a customization guide, and a signature acknowledgment block
Preview
Law Firm AI Use Policy
Effective date: [DATE] · Version 1.0 · Owner: [POLICY OWNER / ROLE]
1. Purpose & Scope
This policy governs the use of AI tools in all legal work performed at [LAW FIRM NAME].
2. Approved Tools & Approval Process
Only AI tools the firm has vetted may be used on client work.
The full template continues with 11 sections. Grab the editable Word file using the form, then customize the bracketed [PLACEHOLDERS] for your business.
How to use it
- Fill in every [bracketed] field — firm name, approved AI tools, policy owner, and effective date.
- Match the outside counsel guidelines section to your real clients by pulling the AI clause from each client's OCG.
- Have your managing partner, GC, or AI/technology committee approve the final version, then collect signed acknowledgments from all lawyers and staff.
- Review it against your state bar's AI guidance and ABA Formal Opinion 512, and have counsel check your final version before adopting it.
Frequently asked questions
- Yes. The full policy and the editable download are free. Fill in the [bracketed] fields with your firm name, approved tools, and client requirements, then have leadership approve it. It is a starting point, so have counsel review your final version.
- Because a generic policy skips the issues that create the most risk for lawyers: attorney-client privilege, client outside counsel guidelines, court AI-disclosure orders, bar ethics duties, and the no-billing-for-AI-time rule. This template is built around those law-firm-specific concerns.
- Yes. Section 3 keeps privileged and confidential client information out of any non-approved or public AI tool, because entering it can breach ABA Model Rule 1.6 and risk waiving privilege. The template also reflects ABA Formal Opinion 512 (2024) on informed consent, competence, supervision, and reasonable fees.
- A lot. Many clients now put AI rules in their outside counsel guidelines — some require notice, some require written consent, and some ban AI outright. Section 4 makes those rules operational: check each client's OCG, flag the matter's AI status at intake, and get written consent where required. Where the OCG is stricter, it controls.
- Sometimes. For clients, ABA Formal Opinion 512 advises getting informed consent before putting their confidential information into an AI tool, and many OCGs require notice or consent. For courts, a growing number of judges require you to disclose or certify AI use in filings. The template makes checking and complying with both a required step.
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Adopting it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, bar rules, and client outside counsel guidelines vary and change. Before adopting this policy, consult qualified counsel and review each client's outside counsel guidelines and your state bar's AI guidance.