Pat Talks Law

Ah.. But having access is very different from knowing how to do it. I have a lathe in my garage. It has been there for five years. I don't know how to use a lathe. You have to have an understanding of the field and diligence to do it right if you want to use AI in to be effective and not dangerous.

Claude = a sales and marketing engine that actually works for law firms. #HubSpot #ClaudeAI #LawFirmMarketing

@ryanmckeen Take a sales class. Silence is money.

The most important skill in law that nobody teaches: knowing when to stop talking. In depositions, in negotiations, in client meetings. Silence is underrated. Lawyers are trained to fill it. The ones who learn not to win more.

@Zheschool @MikeJShowalter Just curious - Why? When most lawyers bill by the hour, shaving the billable time to 15 hours would seem to be a beneficial to a prosective client, you would agree with that, right?

@MikeJShowalter Wouldn't trust a lawyer who did this tbh

@brianlfrye @MikeJShowalter I will not have time to read this until later, but the abstract promises value. Thank you.

@MikeJShowalter @PatTalksLaw I’ve argued that a “duty of efficiency” may require AI use, but I think it’s largely aspirational. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…

@TraditionSarah And the VA concealing service-connection they knew about and denying veterans for decades.

Are we ready to talk about the real scam when it comes to VA disability. VA providers refusing to sign DBQs and provide nexus letters for patients they’ve seen for YEARS, leading to the veteran having to seek second opinions outside of the VA system (which cost money) just to potentially get a rating for a condition that’s well documented within the VA system with a provider they have tenure with. Conflict of interest my ass.

@danmelsonauthor @MrColionNoir No. The M4 is designed for 5.56 and the AR15 is designed .223. 5.56 is a higher pressure cartridge, about 60k psi compared 55k psi in .223. They are different and significantly different.

@MrColionNoir Um, longer barrel, same cartridge. Faster muzzle velocity. The AR15 *is* more powerful per bullet. It just doesn't have burst mode

A veteran said the AR-15 is more powerful than the military’s M4… And people actually want laws passed based on that level of ignorance. This is exactly how bad gun laws happen. Not facts. Not logic. Just emotion, fear, and people saying things that sound good to crowds who don’t know better. So let me ask the gun community something: What’s more dangerous at this point— the rifle they keep lying about… or the people making laws who don’t know a damn thing about it? And be honest— Should being a veteran protect someone from criticism when what they’re saying about guns is flat-out false? Comment below: Does military service give someone instant credibility on gun policy — yes or no? youtu.be/NpjcwrHOUCo?si…

Academic dishonesty, disclosure of AI usage, and other attacks against conductors of the symphony of new tools we have available are to be expected as the entire industry changes into something faster, better, more efficient. These scarlet-letter arguments echo the past arguments of attorneys railing against typewriters, which brought the evils of change. Many viewed typewritten letters as impersonal, impersonal, or even insulting—suggesting the recipient could not read cursive handwriting. Modern anti-AI luddites and typewriter luddites share the same arguments and the same approaches. They will share the same fate as history quietly forgets their protests. As a firm owner (albeit solo now), I go other way -- (not an AI em-dash, an em dash because sometimes thay are simply useful) -- I want to know if you haven't used AI. I would rather know who in my office is wasting time sharpening a quill, when they should be running their drafts through the AI to determine where the wealnesses in their argument is. I want to know who thinks so little of their .... my .... client's money as to squander it inefficiently. Frankly, I want to know who is going to be the first replaced -- probably by AI.

@MikeJShowalter As those billing disputes and Bar complaints start hitting, I believe we will see that it is not ethical to refuse to use the best tools available. It could be construed as intentionally running a clients bill up - we already know that will land attorneys in hot water.

@PatTalksLaw The real question is whether it's ethical for an attorney charging by the hour to not to use AI. Okay to skip Westlaw and head to the law library to canvass the Federal Reporter?

@MatrixMysteries Oh child, you have no idea.

“I’m not asking for a handout. I just want a fair shot at life." An American worker explains how every paycheck DISAPPEARS into rent, bills, and debt — before there’s even room to breathe. “I don’t want to "survive" my whole life — I want a future.”

@MikeJShowalter @OrinKerr Sure.

@PatTalksLaw @OrinKerr @PatTalksLaw 🎯🎯. Would love to connect and hear about what you're doing if you're interested!

An attorney writes to me about the mostly AI-written law review article he had accepted this spring, now forthcoming in the flagship law review of a Top 50 law school. A draft of the article is now up on SSRN. According to the attorney: " Last month I used Claude to assist in drafting a new article . . . . I drafted this article in about 15 hours. In 2022 I published an article of similar length that took around 150 hours." The attorney adds: "I used Claude the way I’d use a junior associate—as a first drafter, sounding board, and research assistant. Most of the article, including the entirety of the title, abstract, and intro, is mine from the keyboard up. And anything Claude contributed that made it to the final version is there because I reviewed it, agreed with it, and chose to sign my name to it. This is no different than how I’d review an associate’s draft and then take responsibility for the finished product." The attorney adds: "That first draft was by no means file ready, but it was better than what I would’ve received from the vast majority of BigLaw associates. I was blown away, and have since started my own appellate and litigation practice in an effort to replicate these productivity gains for client work." Your thoughts? I know the attorney's name, and the journal, and I have checked out the article, but I figured that, at least for now, I would hold that back.

@markcecchini I can't afford to move. My mortgage is 2.15%

people who bought their primary home before 2022 really hacked the system didn’t they

Turning 18 in Missouri isn’t just a birthday. It’s the legal cutoff. Once your kid is adult, parents get locked out. No calls to hospitals, no grade updates. The law bars it. You want access? There’s only one way in: paperwork. Here’s what you need in the “real college supply list”: 1. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare Missouri lets any adult name someone to make medical decisions if they’re unable. No form, no updates to parents. Doctors won’t share info without signed authority. It’s not just a form—think of it as directions for tough calls before tough times hit. 2. HIPAA Authorization Medical privacy kicks in hard at 18. Tuition checks or parent visits don’t get health info unlocked. You need this form to let trusted people talk to doctors or insurers—even if the student is awake. It’s your lifeline to info before a crisis turns chaotic. 3. Durable Power of Attorney for Finances College often means sudden money responsibilities. This form lets someone move your money or pay bills if you can’t. Missouri is picky on format. Get it wrong, and banks toss your papers. No DIY here. You need to work with a Missouri attorney. Plus, don’t forget: - FERPA release for school records access - Advance Health Care Directive to spell out wishes for life support - Digital asset authorization so someone can manage email, apps, passwords - A simple will to control where your stuff goes, no matter your age This is planning. Without these documents, a simple hospital visit or tuition issue can balloon into confusion, delays, and heartbreak. Missouri law treats 18+ as full adults, with no “parent” exceptions. If you’re a parent or student, ask yourself: Are you ready when everything changes overnight? Don’t wait for an emergency to find out you’re locked out. Get these papers done right—signed, notarized, witnessed—and keep copies accessible. It’s low cost, low time, and huge peace of mind. Be ahead of the curve. Protect your voice. Protect your family. 🛡️ Read more at nemolegal.com and get the clear steps your Missouri family needs.

@ryanmckeen That "might" is doing a lot work. AI isn't going to change that. Expectations are are increasing.

The efficiency promise of technology has never been realized in law. Every new tool just raised the baseline expectation. Lawyers aren't less busy — they're more busy with higher expectations. AI might actually be the first tool to change that.

@SidneyPowellQ Yes. And many of us are rather unhappy it is taking so long.

Question for MAGA from a liberal woman. "Hi, I'm just wondering if you guys who voted for Trump — did you vote for the Department of Education to be dismantled? Because that's what he's doing right now. MAGA?

@ryanmckeen This. My clients are much happier with fixed rates. And I make more across the board.

The billable hour isn't dying because of law firm committee decisions. It's dying because good lawyers have figured out they can make more without it. And that clients are rightly demanding it,

This is the problem with so many solo attorneys that seek to help folks. Pro bono is great. But if you can't keep your practice open, you can't help people. A lot of people are under the impression that lawyers are just in for the money. Some are. Some are not. If you are the lawyer who owns a firm and you are not about the money, you will soon be working for an attorney who is. Or a government agency that doesn't care about the money ... or the people.

Lawyers are obsessed with hourly rates and indifferent to profit margins. That's backwards. All lawyers should read "Profit First".

This is the problem with so many solo attorneys that seek to help folks. Pro bono is great. But if you can't keep your practice open, you can't help people. A lot of people are under the impression that lawyers are just in for the money. Some are. Some are not. If you are the lawyer who owns a firm and you are not about the money, you will soon be working for an attorney who is. Or a government agency that doesn't care about the money ... or the people.

Don't pay your lawyer is terrible advice. But it is why lawyers get paid in advance

@jennyrozelle Truth.

Historically, unauthorized practice of law (UPL) enforcement has been sparse. But as chatbots, online platforms, and non-attorney professionals expand access to legal help, the line between permissible and prohibited feels increasingly arbitrary. Either enforcement needs to catch up and give us meaningful guidance, or the rules themselves need to evolve.