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The technological revolution waits for no one—not even lawyers. Generative AI is reshaping how legal professionals work, and understanding its potential could be the difference between thriving and merely surviving in tomorrow's legal landscape.

Commercial litigator and Husch Blackwell partner Emily Stedman cuts through the hype and fear surrounding generative AI to deliver practical insights for attorneys. Unlike search engines that retrieve existing information, generative AI creates content based on your prompts—think of it as a diligent summer associate rather than a replacement for your legal expertise. From drafting discovery requests in half the time to summarizing depositions and creating project plans, these tools create efficiency that allows attorneys to focus on what matters: strategy, client relationships, and the human elements of legal practice.

But with great power comes significant ethical responsibility. Emily tackles the critical concerns head-on: maintaining client confidentiality when using AI systems, verifying the accuracy of AI-generated content (particularly those pesky "hallucinated" legal citations), and fulfilling the ethical obligation to maintain technological competence. Enterprise solutions like Husch Blackwell's "Prompt Composer" offer closed-universe alternatives that maintain attorney-client privilege, while careful review processes ensure AI remains a tool rather than a replacement for legal judgment.

Whether you're AI-curious or AI-anxious, this episode provides the foundation you need to approach generative AI with confidence. And stay tuned—next week's episode will deliver specific examples of how Emily incorporates AI into her daily practice. The attorneys who learn to leverage these tools while maintaining their unique human value will define the next generation of legal excellence. Are you ready to join them?

Find out more at https://thegraceperiod.substack.com/.