AI Hallucinations, Errors Plague Filings as Law Tech Usage Rises

As courts grapple with a growing number of AI-related errors in legal filings, attorneys are being reminded that new technology does not change longstanding professional obligations. In a recent Virginia Lawyers Weekly article, Woods Rogers Principal and Chair of the firm’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Practice, Beth Burgin Waller, shared her perspective on how lawyers can responsibly integrate AI into their work while managing risk.

While AI tools can enhance efficiency, Beth noted they should be approached with the same care as any other legal resource. “I try to responsibly lean on AI tools in the same way I do any other technology,” she said.

She also pointed to the ways AI is reshaping client demand, and in turn, her own practice. “The rise of AI has shifted my practice toward advising clients on AI governance, compliance, and AI-specific contractual considerations.”

That evolution, she explained, requires heightened responsibility, particularly in safeguarding sensitive information. Beth emphasized that she applies “strict guardrails to ensure client confidences are protected, particularly amid evolving national security risks.”

Her comments reflect a broader theme in the article: while AI can be a powerful tool, it introduces new layers of professional accountability. Beth underscored that point with a practical reminder for attorneys: “All work products that AI is involved in should be carefully cite-checked against authoritative legal sources to confirm that the cited cases exist and are accurately described.” 

Looking ahead, Beth expressed support for clearer guidance from courts on AI usage, pointing to emerging local rules as a positive development. She said, “It is my hope that more jurisdictions adopt rules similar to those implemented by the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond.”

Read the article in Virginia Lawyers Weekly.