EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed numerous industries, and legal research is no exception. Emerging AI-powered tools have introduced new efficiencies in case law analysis, contract review, compliance monitoring, and legal document automation. Among these innovations, DeepSeek, an open-source large language model (LLM), has garnered…
Articles Posted in Commentary and Opinion
ABA Issues Guidance Allowing Lawyers Discretion When They are Victims of Crime by Client: Formal Opinion 515
FROM THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA): “The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion on March 5, 2025, that provides clarification on when a lawyer may divulge information when they are a victim of a crime by a client or prospective client. Formal Opinion 515 states…
Do State Legislatures Have to Obey U.S. Supreme Court Decisions?
In his essay, Do State Legislatures Have to Obey U.S. Supreme Court Decisions? Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses how several state legislatures, particularly Alabama, are passing laws allowing the death penalty for child rape despite a 2008 Supreme Court ruling, Kennedy v. Louisiana, that declared such punishment unconstitutional. Professor Sarat…
AI Driven Legal Research and Library Services: A New Era for Law Librarians
Introduction: Law libraries are undergoing a transformation fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). While AI isn’t replacing law librarians, it has become a powerful tool that is changing how legal research is conducted and how libraries serve their patrons Modern law librarians leverage AI in various domains – from advanced legal…
American Association of Law Libraries Public Statement Supporting Access to Legal Information
FROM: Jenny S. Silbiger, AALL Vice President. “I am so grateful to all of our members who make AALL an informed, educated, and wholehearted organization. I know we are not alone in the work that we do, as access to legal information impacts all aspects of the legal profession, and I…
Beyond Remorse: Understanding Those Who Do Not Regret Their Actions
“Beyond remorse” refers to, individuals who exhibit a lack of regret or guilt for their actions, often associated with a personality disorder like antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), where people may not understand the harm they cause others and therefore do not feel remorseful, even when confronted with the consequences of…
Potential Impacts of Government Efficiency Reforms Led by Elon Musk on U.S. Government Libraries
Introduction Materials consulted in preparing this posting were curated from various sources including the recently introduced Deep Research by OpenAI. With Elon Musk at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency, various agencies within the U.S. government may experience restructuring aimed at streamlining operations, reducing costs, and integrating advanced…
The ABA Supports the Rule of Law
A message from William R. Bay, President of the American Bar Association, February 10, 2025: It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule…
ABA Privacy and Computer Crime Webinar on UN Cybercrime Convention
From the ABA Cybercrime Committee of the Criminal Justice Convention “Please see attached abstract and registration information for a webinar our committee is putting on with the Cybercrime Committee of the Criminal Justice Section on the newly adopted UN Cybercrime Convention: Overview & Impact. I hope you will be able…
Reactions to Trumps First Days as a Second Term President: Perspectives from the Right and Left
President Donald Trump’s second term began with a whirlwind of executive actions, sparking sharply divided reactions from the left and right. While Trump’s policies focused on immigration, energy, federal employment, and high-profile pardons, the responses have highlighted ideological divides: The Right’s Perspective: Many on the right criticized Trump’s sweeping pardons…