Podcast Summary:

Texas Family Law Insiders
Episode: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Family Law: Tools, Risks, and Policy
Guest: Carolyn Elefant
Host: Holly Draper
Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Holly Draper hosts legal innovation and tech pioneer Carolyn Elefant to discuss the transformational role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the practice of family law. The conversation covers the practical uses of AI, the skills lawyers need to effectively leverage these emerging tools, potential risks and policy considerations, and actionable steps for integrating AI into solo, small, and larger firm practices. Throughout, Carolyn offers accessible, real-world examples and advice tailored specifically for lawyers who may feel overwhelmed or intimidated by AI.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Carolyn Elefant’s Background and Approach

• Legal Experience: Founder of the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, with over 30 years of practice (01:22). Originated “myshingle.com,” one of the first blogs for solo and small firm lawyers (02:28).
• Advocacy: Carolyn's mission is to empower solo and small firm lawyers with tech tools to stay competitive and to address their unique challenges.

Why AI Matters for Lawyers

• Efficiency and Amplification: AI enables lawyers to "do more with the resources that they have" and to "focus on the creative process and exercising their judgment" (A, 05:43).

• Practical Impact: Automates mundane or repetitive tasks, freeing attorneys for higher-level, client-focused work.

  “It frees lawyers up to really focus on the creative process and exercising their judgment, which are things that AI really doesn't do...it frees lawyers up to focus on the kind of work that we enjoy doing and that we went to law school to do.” (A, 05:43)

AI and the Future of Legal Jobs

• Gradual Shift, Not a Crash: While tasks performed by junior staffers may be phased out, Carolyn predicts gradual change and opportunity for those displaced to create their own firms or offer more affordable services (A, 07:17).

  “I think there'll be a shift. I mean, I think overall there probably will be a reduction in attorneys, but I don't think it's as drastic as people are predicting...And I think it'll be more gradual.” (A, 07:17)

Getting Started with AI — Practical Advice

• Start Simple: Use AI for checklists, law firm policies, routine responses, brainstorming, or overcoming writer's block (A, 08:53).

• Low-risk Tasks: Begin with content where minor mistakes carry low consequences (e.g., blog posts versus legal filings).

  “Just using it for basic things that you've been wanting to get to and you never have...It’s a very simple way to do it. It’s like having a conversation with an associate or a paralegal.” (A, 08:53)

Top Skills for Lawyers Adopting AI

• Clear Communication: Treat prompts like instructions to a law clerk—precise guidance yields better results (A, 10:37).
• Critical Thinking: Always review AI outputs for accuracy and applicability.
• Curiosity: Experiment with new features and use cases; peer sharing yields surprising applications (A, 10:37).

Innovative Use Cases from Lawyers

• Master Prompts: One lawyer built a master prompt (100+ pages) encoding firm voice, mission, and key data, reused as context for all inputs (A, 12:43).

• Oral Argument Simulation: Use ChatGPT’s voice mode to simulate appellate moots with uploaded briefs and transcripts (A, 14:50).

  “I set the AI up for him and he used it and he did a really good job.” (A, 14:26)

• Litigation Support: Organizing discovery responses, drafting motions, spreadsheeting financial data, and generating or objecting to discovery requests (A, 17:03).

Training and Customization

• Training AI: Use custom GPTs or Claude “Projects” to upload sample materials, give detailed instructions, and progressively refine outputs via feedback (A, 18:08).
• Custom GPTs Explained: Create a focused knowledge base within ChatGPT by uploading firm-specific documents and instructions—results are more precise and reusable (A, 20:30).

Risks, Ethics, and Confidentiality

• Confidentiality Risks: Avoid using free AI platforms for sensitive data—business or enterprise accounts offer contractual protection and encryption (A, 22:35).

• HIPAA Considerations: For health data, only use AI with appropriate enterprise agreements (A, 24:00).

• When Not to Rely on AI: Exercise caution for issues of first impression or situations requiring nuanced judgment (A, 25:06).

  “Avoid relying heavily on it...where you maybe wouldn’t want to use AI or rely on it is for issues of judgment.” (A, 25:06)

Automation and Workflow

• Automate News/Content: Set AI to pull news items and generate posts or emails; tools like string.com offer non-tech-friendly automation (A, 26:31).
• Volume Email Management: Tools like Fixer can help manage overwhelming inboxes (A, 29:54).

Client Communication Improvements

• Transcripts and Summarized Communications: Record (with consent) and transcribe client meetings for more accurate, actionable notes and agreements (A, 30:33).
• Automate Status Updates: Use AI to draft or send updates when case events occur (A, 30:33).

Disclosure to Clients

• Ethical Opinions: The ABA requires disclosure if confidential data is entered into AI. Check specific state rules (A, 32:37).
• Fee Transparency: If AI significantly speeds tasks, hourly billing should reflect actual time spent (A, 32:37).

Flat Fees and Family Law’s Future

• Disruption of Billable Hours: AI will make flat fees more feasible, especially as the time for document review and analysis drops precipitously (A, 35:04).

  “If they get a bill for, you know, 20 hours of document review, they're going to wonder why it took so long when an AI tool could have done it in five hours.” (A, 35:04)

Internal Policies and Training

• Openness and Verification: Require teammates to disclose AI use, document prompts and results, and verify all AI-generated work (A, 36:45).
• Team Training: Ongoing, rather than one-off CLEs. Fractional “Chief AI Officers” are starting to appear in law firms (A, 38:54).

AI for Marketing and Business Development

• Business Research and Outreach: Use AI to identify speaking venues, obtain contacts, and draft intro emails (A, 41:04).

• Content Generation: AI helps brainstorm and script weekly live content and social follow-ups (C, 43:01).

  “In 20 minutes she had a list of 15 places that she could reach out to and an email to send to them.” (A, 41:04)

Favorite AI Tools Beyond ChatGPT

• Claude: Professional drafting, brief sections, and writing decisions.
• Perplexity: For deep web searches and external reference gathering.
• Plod/Fathom: Recording and transcribing meetings or conferences.
• String.com: Simple, guided automations for non-techies (A, 44:25).

Actionable Challenge for Listeners

• Immediate Next Step: Pick one bothersome, repetitive, or overdue firm task—try to address it with AI within a week (A, 45:52).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lawyers' Uniqueness:

  "Prompt engineering is really just communication. Think of how you would communicate an assignment to a law clerk, and that’s the way you would want to communicate it to AI." (A, 10:37)

• On Flat Fees and AI’s Disruptive Potential:

  "Family law attorneys in particular should want to be thinking about ways that they can at least incorporate flat fees for certain parts of their practice." (A, 35:04)

• On Team Policies:

  "If I get a document that has a case that's not verified, I mean, to me that's a termination related offense." (A, 36:45)

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

• Carolyn’s Background & MyShingle – 01:19–04:02
• Why AI Matters for Lawyers – 05:43–06:51
• Effect on Legal Jobs & Future Outlook – 06:51–08:40
• Getting Started & Low-barrier Tasks – 08:40–10:31
• Top AI Skills for Lawyers – 10:31–12:25
• Surprising AI Use Cases – 12:25–16:46
• Litigation & Discovery Applications – 16:46–18:03
• Training AI & Custom GPTs – 18:03–21:57
• Risks & Confidentiality – 22:27–25:01
• What Not to Automate/Trust to AI – 25:01–26:15
• Easy Automation Tools – 26:15–29:37
• Inbox Management – 29:37–30:27
• Client Communication Improvements – 30:27–32:31
• Ethical Obligations and Client Disclosure – 32:31–34:00
• AI, Flat Fees, and Changing Economics – 34:00–36:38
• Internal AI Policies & Verification – 36:38–38:20
• Team Training & Chief AI Officer Role – 38:20–40:30
• Marketing with AI – 40:52–44:17
• Favorite Tools Beyond ChatGPT – 44:17–45:43
• Actionable AI Challenge – 45:43–46:26

Resources Mentioned

• Carolyn Elefant’s Sites:
  • MyShingle.com: Guides, policies, and resources for solo and small firm lawyers (46:30)
  • CarolynElefant.com: Law firm site
• Apps/Platforms/tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Plod, Fathom, String.com, Fixer

Final Takeaway:
AI is fundamentally reshaping the practice of law. Starting small, cultivating a habit of experimentation, and developing strong verification systems are key to harnessing its power and avoiding its pitfalls as a modern family lawyer.