AI Best Practices: What Every Lawyer Should Know

As the use of AI becomes more widespread and pressure grows to adopt these tools, it is essential for attorneys to understand how to use AI properly. This seminar will examine what judges are seeing from the bench, including the use of AI generated materials as demonstrative evidence, issues involving waiver of privilege when litigants rely on public AI platforms, and how courts are responding to attorney misuse of AI. The panel will also explore the ethical use of AI under the professional responsibility rules, including the duties of competence and confidentiality. Finally, the program will outline best practices for integrating AI into your law practice, providing practical guidance on using AI responsibly, including how to avoid common pitfalls and suggesting strategies for remaining compliant with the rules of professional responsibility.

1 hour MCLE credit, including .75 hours ethics credit.

Presented by

Hon. Xavier Rodriguez
United States District Judge, Western District of Texas

Carrie Phaneuf
Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange

Mitch Zoll
Zoll Firm

Moderated by Laura Alaniz (Liskow)

Justice Xavier Rodriguez

Xavier Rodriguez is a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and currently sits on the bench as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, a master’s degree from the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs, a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas Law School, and a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University, Bolch Judicial Institute. Prior to assuming the bench, he was a partner in the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski (now known as Norton Rose Fulbright). He was board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps and has served on the board of directors of several charitable organizations across Texas. Judge Rodriguez is a frequent speaker on continuing legal education seminars and has authored numerous articles regarding employment law, discovery, and arbitration issues. He is the editor of Essentials of E-Discovery (TexasBarBooks 2d ed. 2021). He is a member of The Sedona Conference Judicial Advisory Board, the Georgetown Advanced E-Discovery Institute Advisory Board, the EDRM Global Advisory Council, and serves as the Distinguished Visiting Jurist-in-Residence and adjunct professor of law at the St. Mary’s University School of Law. He was elected to membership in the American Law Institute and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation. In 2011 he was awarded the Rosewood Gavel Award for outstanding judicial service from the St. Mary's University School of Law. In 2017, he received the State Bar of Texas Gene Cavin Award for Excellence in CLE, recognizing his long-term contributions to continuing legal education. In 2021, he was presented the Texas Bar Foundation’s Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award and the TexasBarCle’s Pat Nester Innovation in Professional Development Award. He is a Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section, Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section and Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education Committee.

Carrie Phaneuf

Carrie Phaneuf is the Vice President of Loss Prevention of Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange (TLIE), an insurance company based in Austin, Texas that provides legal malpractice insurance to over 7000 lawyers and judges in Texas. In her role at TLIE, she provides loss prevention, risk management and best practices guidance to TLIE insureds, develops and presents CLE to TLIE insureds, bar association groups, and law school groups, and writes a weekly blog on legal malpractice, ethics, and loss prevention issues. Prior to joining TLIE in July 2024, she was a member of the Dallas law firm Cobb Martinez Woodward PLLC, where she practiced law for 16 years. Carrie also practiced law with the Dallas law firm Cowles & Thompson from 1998 to 2008.
In private practice, Carrie represented Texas attorneys in professional liability and disciplinary matters. She also provided risk management advice to her clients. Carrie received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, with honors, and graduated from the SMU Dedman School of Law in 1998, Cum Laude and Order of the Coif. Carrie twice has been recognized as one of the top 50 women attorneys in Texas by Thomson Reuters in 2019 and 2020. She was also named to “D” Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas in 2014, 2016-2024; Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2013-2024; and “The Best Lawyers in America” by BL Rankings in Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants, 2021-2024. Carrie was also formerly on the TLIE Board of Directors from 2008-2024. Carrie has been married for 28 years to her husband, Marshall, and they have two daughters ages 20 and 23.

Mitch Zoll

Mitch Zoll is the founding attorney of Zoll Firm, PLLC and the current Chair of the Computer & Technology Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Before becoming a lawyer, Mitch worked at Accenture as a business process redesign consultant, helping startups, government agencies, and Fortune 100 companies rethink how they served their clients and then using technology to make those processes more effective. Over his career, he has worked in government law departments and large Texas-based law firms, and now runs his own solo practice, so when he talks about how law firms operate, he’s seen it from every angle.

At his firm in Austin, Mitch uses technology-supported processes to help small and midsize businesses from formation through sale, building systems that allow him to focus on practical, process-driven solutions that make legal work more efficient and client-focused. He’s been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and named one of Austin Monthly’s Top Attorneys for Business Law several years running.

When not teaching lawyers about systems, he’s usually building new ones for himself. He believes process automation and law firm efficiency are within every lawyer’s reach—most just need a better starting point. Mitch brings his background in business process design to help lawyers streamline client delivery and take full advantage of today’s evolving legal tech landscape.

Webinar information is sent to registrants via email.

Become A Member of the HBA Join Today

About the HBA

People

Awards

Ancillary Organizations

News and Information

Become A Member of the HBA Join Today

Membership

Ways to Engage

Resources

Community Service

View the Calendar See Our Events

CLE Programs

Signature Events

View Our Magazine Read the Current Issue

The Houston Lawyer

Legal Directory Directory of the Courts

Legal Assistance

Public Education

Legal Directory

Houston Bar Foundation Read More

About the HBF

You belong with us! Become a member.

The 100 Club

Membership

Recent News

Upcoming Events

The 100 Club

Firms of 100+ Attorneys

Firms of 50-100 Attorneys

Firms of 25-49 Attorneys

Firms of 5-24 Attorneys

Corporate Legal Departments

Government Agencies

Law School Faculty

Contact Us

Become A Member of the HBA
Join Today

Become A Member of the HBA
Join Today

View the Calendar
See Our Events

View Our Magazine
Read the Current Issue

Legal Directory
Directory of the Courts

Houston Bar Foundation
Read More