Takeaways from the May 6, 2026, Orange County Women Lawyers Association and Orange County Bar Association Business & Corporate Law Section Joint Meeting on AI

AI is a useful tool to improve efficiency, but as we integrate it into workflows, how do we design the boundaries that keep ethics and security front and center? This was one of the topics discussed during the Orange County Women Lawyers Association and Orange County Bar Association Business & Corporate Law Section joint meeting “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Using AI: Keeping Humans in the Loop for Privilege, Intake, Quality, and Security”. A big thanks to the expert panelists for a practical look at how we can innovate without losing the human element. 

My two takeaways: 

• Keep a Human in the Loop: AI is a powerful tool for activities like intake, document drafting, research, and more, but it cannot replace human judgment. Maintaining human oversight is the only way to ensure quality and security as we enter this nascent era of artificial intelligence powered systems. 

• Define Reasonable Yet Clear Policies and Procedures: Having a structured framework in place ensures that technology serves a firm effectively and safely. In order to promote proper use of AI, educate internal stakeholders on the risks and implications while still allowing space for safe exploration of technology. 

  
  

From an operational standpoint I believe efficiency is the goal, but security and quality are equally important. The most successful firms won't just have the best technology; they’ll also have the best people and policies governing them.