While out running with my pastor one morning, he asked me how I would best describe my law practice. The easy and most relatable way to explain at least one part of my practice was to walk him through my consultations.
In addition to representing employers, a significant part of my practice has become roughly one-hour consultations, where I meet with an executive to discuss a new employment agreement, a noncompete agreement or a severance agreement. This starts with me reviewing the relevant agreement, meeting with the client and then following up.
As I explained it to my pastor, my hour conversation with the person seeking my help is usually broken into three generally equal parts: listening to the client tell be about the background and how he or she thinks we should approach the matter; me kindly and gently explaining why I think that might not be the most appropriate approach; and providing what I think is the best path forward.
A fellow attorney friend told me about the moment when one of her clients paused in a meeting to consult ChatGPT regarding their legal approach. She described hearing the client’s nails clacking on a keyboard. Her supervising partner started to say something, stopped and then asked:
“Are you using ChatGPT by any chance?”
The client said, “Yes, and it says right here that your strategy to . . .”
I don’t really need to finish that story, do I? Because in 2026, I would put money down that many attorneys have had a similar — if not identical — interaction.
Since that watershed moment in November of 2022 when OpenAI released ChatGPT for public consumption, generative AI has become an all-in-one pocket doctor, therapist, lawyer and priest for many consumers. So, what are we to do, especially if we are new attorneys, in this age of AI?
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00IntellectualPropertyhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngIntellectualProperty2026-03-03 16:21:562026-03-09 16:29:13Becoming an Associate in the Age of AI
I recently had lunch with a good friend where I, for the first time, spoke seriously about my retirement. By way of background, I am fifty-one years old and have been practicing law since 2001. My wife works for a large financial institution, and we have two sons, ages ten and twelve. But why would you care about my retirement? Well, because of the nature of our legal practices, I think it’s something that some lawyers struggle with, and I’m hoping to avoid that.
For the last ten years or so, I have casually mentioned retiring at age fifty-five. (If my own math works out, I will retire around fifty-seven.) Reactions to my talk of retirement have ranged from eyes nearly popping out of heads to subtle laughs to talk of wishful thinking. I like to think these reactions stem from the fact that many of us have not truly contemplated the end of our careers, in part, because like so many other professionals and maybe to an even greater degree, we feel defined by our professions.
The Middle Third
Featured PostsWhile out running with my pastor one morning, he asked me how I would best describe my law practice. The easy and most relatable way to explain at least one part of my practice was to walk him through my consultations.
In addition to representing employers, a significant part of my practice has become roughly one-hour consultations, where I meet with an executive to discuss a new employment agreement, a noncompete agreement or a severance agreement. This starts with me reviewing the relevant agreement, meeting with the client and then following up.
As I explained it to my pastor, my hour conversation with the person seeking my help is usually broken into three generally equal parts: listening to the client tell be about the background and how he or she thinks we should approach the matter; me kindly and gently explaining why I think that might not be the most appropriate approach; and providing what I think is the best path forward.
Read more
Becoming an Associate in the Age of AI
Featured PostsA fellow attorney friend told me about the moment when one of her clients paused in a meeting to consult ChatGPT regarding their legal approach. She described hearing the client’s nails clacking on a keyboard. Her supervising partner started to say something, stopped and then asked:
“Are you using ChatGPT by any chance?”
The client said, “Yes, and it says right here that your strategy to . . .”
I don’t really need to finish that story, do I? Because in 2026, I would put money down that many attorneys have had a similar — if not identical — interaction.
Since that watershed moment in November of 2022 when OpenAI released ChatGPT for public consumption, generative AI has become an all-in-one pocket doctor, therapist, lawyer and priest for many consumers. So, what are we to do, especially if we are new attorneys, in this age of AI?
Read more
Retirement
Featured PostsI recently had lunch with a good friend where I, for the first time, spoke seriously about my retirement. By way of background, I am fifty-one years old and have been practicing law since 2001. My wife works for a large financial institution, and we have two sons, ages ten and twelve. But why would you care about my retirement? Well, because of the nature of our legal practices, I think it’s something that some lawyers struggle with, and I’m hoping to avoid that.
For the last ten years or so, I have casually mentioned retiring at age fifty-five. (If my own math works out, I will retire around fifty-seven.) Reactions to my talk of retirement have ranged from eyes nearly popping out of heads to subtle laughs to talk of wishful thinking. I like to think these reactions stem from the fact that many of us have not truly contemplated the end of our careers, in part, because like so many other professionals and maybe to an even greater degree, we feel defined by our professions.
Read more