Professor Nancy B. Rapoport's Scholarship Brings Legal Ethics into the Generative AI Era

Generative AI is changing not only how lawyers work, but also how they must think about their professional responsibilities. In The Short and Happy Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Legal Ethics, Professor Nancy B. Rapoport and longtime writing partner Joseph R. Tiano, Jr., examine how established ethical obligations—including client confidentiality, technological competence, conflicts of interest, transparency, and reasonable fees—apply as GenAI becomes increasingly integrated into legal practice.

The book grew from a shared recognition that AI could fundamentally disrupt traditional law firm models. As technology takes on work historically performed by junior associates, Professors Rapoport and Tiano have explored what that shift means for the profession through articles such as Fighting the Hypothetical: Why Law Firms Should Rethink the Billable Hour in the Generative AI Era. Their work ultimately led West Academic to approach them to create a practical guide for its Short and Happy series.  Their book is now used by both law schools and law firms to help students and practicing attorneys understand how professional ethics apply in an AI-driven legal landscape.

That scholarship is also making its way directly into the Boyd Law classroom. This fall, Professors Rapoport and Joseph Regalia are teaching sections of Boyd Law’s Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence course for first-semester students, introducing them to responsible GenAI use within both law school and the legal profession. Through imaginative exercises—including drafting a contract and navigating a fictional lawsuit—students will explore ethical rules alongside the legal concepts they are beginning to learn. As Professor Rapoport explains, the goal is to “give students context for what they’re learning” while preparing them for a profession in which understanding how to use AI responsibly will be increasingly essential.

Fun Fact 
Professor Rapoport’s husband doesn’t use GenAI much, preferring to ask her to do the prompts.