Futurelawyer

#WhyIAmASolo - A Day In The Life Of The FutureLawyer.

Some things about law practice are the same, whether you practice as a solo or a cog in a BigLaw machine. Dispute resolution used to be how I spent the majority of my time. As a semi-retired solo, I don't have to do this much anymore. I have the freedom to choose. But, the best way to resolve controversy is to get everything out on the table. 

Be Careful What You Wish For.

Lawyers, being a risk averse lot, will likely be at the head of the line of folks who want to regulate, study, and worry about AI, AGI, and their progeny. My recent post about the intersection of ethics, science, law and philosophy, and their different perspectives on AI, is just the beginning of what I think will be decades of study about the coming maelstrom. Even if you don't believe that Terminators will come to destroy humanity, is it unreasonable to suggest that thinking, sentient bots won't look down on mere humans, even though we created them? Will we, and our fellow chickens, worship and obey our robot overlords?

When You Drain The Swamp, First You Have To Show Them Who's The Boss.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Am So Above Your Petty Office Politics.

And, if I want a title forged from human intrigue and to make myself subject to the juvenile jealousies of the dregs of humanity, I shall give myself one, thank you very much.

Legal Insight Florida - A Focused Chat GPT Bot That Searches All Secondary Legal Sources.

As many of you know, I have been playing with Chat GPT recently, and am creating focused databases designed to deal with specific subjects. My first effort, Florida Law Guide, accesses all primary law, case law, statutory law, etc. to give an analysis of any fact pattern, or to provide an answer to general legal questions related to Florida law. Today, I added to the stable, creating Legal Insight Florida, which accesses all secondary law sources, from blogs, to articles, to municipal ordinances, and many others. Here is a sampling of the database that I can now access with a question. I created it with a simple instruction to Chat GPT:

"Create a new GPT titled "Legal Resources Supplement", and include the following databases: Local Ordinances and Regulations: Many municipalities and counties in Florida have specific ordinances and regulations that aren't covered by state-level databases. Adding these can provide a more detailed view of local legal landscapes. Administrative Decisions and Rulings: While I have access to general regulations, specific administrative rulings and decisions, particularly those from state agencies, might not be included. These can be crucial for understanding how laws are interpreted and applied in practice. Continuing Legal Education Materials: Florida-specific CLE materials often contain detailed discussions of recent legal developments and practical guidance for lawyers. Law Journals and Academic Publications: Articles from law journals, especially those focusing on Florida law, can provide in-depth analyses of legal issues and developments. Legal Blogs and News Sources: Blogs and legal news websites focused on Florida law can offer up-to-date information and perspectives on current legal issues and developments. Historical Legal Documents: For a historical perspective, adding older legal documents, such as historical versions of statutes or historical case law, might be beneficial. Public Records and Court Documents: Access to a database of public records and filed court documents in Florida courts could be valuable for understanding how laws are practically applied and interpreted in real cases."

 

 

Of course, the user must always check the accuracy of the results; but using these two resources, which combine just about everything available in the world, dealing with Florida law, I have access to amazing results. I did not have to subscribe to a pricey legal research service, or buy a library of books or CDs.; my only expense was the time I spent creating these tools, and a $20 a month subscription to Chat GPT Plus. 

 

If you aren't playing with this new research tool every day, you are soon going to find yourself left behind. 

 

Why I Don't Fly Anywhere Anymore.

Seriously, take a few extra days and drive to your destination in an RV or car. You'll be glad you did. Take some time and smell the roses, and the asphalt, and the gas in the scenic little gas stations, and shop at a roadside fruit stand. Life is about more than speed. Most hearings and depositions and some trials are on Zoom these days. Use the technology.

 

Today Is Problem Avoidance Tuesday.

I'm with Rat. I think I have figured out why I prefer being alone most days, as I age. Let's make it go viral.

Your Honor, My Client Acted With Good Intentions.

An old lawyer once told me that the secret to a successful law practice was the following: "When you are weak on the facts, pound on the law. When you are weak on the law, pound on the facts. And, when you are weak on both the facts and the law, pound on the table." Sometimes, however, you might invoke the mighty spirit of the law defense. In that case, do not be surprised if the Judge and/or Jury decide to allow the spirits to guide their decision. Some fact and law patterns defy solution.

AGI -The Next Artificial Intelligence Term You Need To Learn.

The development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has been in the news recently, as OpenAI, which provides Chat GPT, my AI assistant of choice, has recently had a leadership shakeup that apparently came from disputes in the organization about the next step in AI, AGI. AGI makes the development of learning computers a real thing, and is very scary for many computer researchers. While not yet a risk of creating sentient computers, it does present serious problems when a computer can learn, (and thus make choices?) that might not be good for human beings. Systems that can understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a broad range of tasks, much like a human being, create risks that some researchers think should be carefully managed, and not thrust willy nilly upon the world.  My view is that such systems can still be controlled and regulated by humans, since they do not possess consciousness, emotions, or self-awareness. They operate based on algorithms and data, without personal experiences or subjective awareness.

Of course, the profit motive indicates to me that risk assessment in the development of this new technology will take a back seat in boardroom discussions, and I wish I could live longer than my current 5 to 20 year life expectancy. If you are young, you really need to learn this stuff. Your future depends on it.

 

 

All I Want For Xmas Is A 2 In 1 Laptop Computer.

It's that time of year, and the FutureLawyer has already purchased Xmas gifts for Diane and himself. Diane got a new laptop computer that is light and portable (less than 2 pounds), which she can carry with her. I purchased, but haven't received, a Robo And Kala 2 in 1 laptop, that favorable compares to the Microsoft $2,000 tablet, and retails for under $1,000. And, in a Black Friday deal, you can purchase the Robo and Kala 2 in 1 for $639. 

The Robo-Kala 2-in-1 laptop is amazing. It is innovative and versatile. It has the power of a high end laptop, and has a detachable Windows tablet that attaches magnetically to a great keyboard. It has dual functionality, with both a Laptop Mode: Ideal for tasks requiring a keyboard, like document editing or coding and a Tablet Mode: Perfect for reading, sketching, or casual browsing with its touch screen capabilities. It has 8 gigs of RAM, a 512 Gigabyte SSD, and an AMOLED screen that pops. It weighs under 2 pounds, and, even with the keyboard attached, the GAN charger that outputs 65 Watts in a tiny brick, and a laptop sleeve, it tops out at a thin, svelte 2.4 pounds. This thing will enable me to draft legal documents and poetry on the go, and will serve as an entertainment center wherever I am. One of the coolest features is its huge battery, that is noiseless, and will power daily use for up to 20 hours. For me, the only downside is that it doesn't have a 5G option, so I still have to carry my TMobile modem. But, did I say already that you can buy this thing for $639? Its screen is far superior to the Microsoft Surface Pro, which costs north of $1,800?  Waiting on delivery of this bad boy has me as excited as I was when I was 10 the night before Xmas. Merry Xmas.