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ARTICLE · 20 APRIL 2026

What Lawyers Should Know About AI And Ethics Today

Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP
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Mark Palmer, Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism, delivered a CLE session at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck addressing the intersection of artificial intelligence and the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. The presentation explored how attorneys must balance technological innovation with ethical obligations, covering competence requirements, confidentiality protections, and supervision standards for AI-generated legal work.

United StatesTechnology
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP
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Mark Palmer, Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism, recently visited Schiller DuCanto & Fleck (SDF) as part of the firm’s SDF Academy training program. He delivered a timely Continuing Legal Education (CLE) session focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.

During the presentation, Palmer addressed best practices and emerging policies for the responsible use of AI in legal practice, emphasizing that attorneys must adapt to evolving technology while maintaining ethical obligations. He highlighted several key professional conduct rules:

  • Rule 1.1 Competence: Modern legal competence now includes technological competence, requiring attorneys to understand the benefits, risks, and limitations of AI tools.

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