Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024 - 32

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
SPECIAL SECTION
From left to right: D.C. Bar General
Counsel Erum Mirza, CEO Robert
Spagnoletti, and Chief Information
Officer Caterina Luppi.
offer. Being first [to do this] really
speaks to the D.C. Bar's status as
the premier bar in the country. "
MATCH MADE BY AI
TAKING LEGAL REFERRAL TO THE FUTURE
By Jeremy Conrad
T
he District of Columbia Bar is breaking new
ground in community service, embracing artificial
intelligence (AI) technology to connect Bar
members with potential clients and further
expand access to justice.
In May 2024, the Bar launched its Lawyer Referral Service (LRS), a subscription
program that uses a cutting-edge, AI-based system to match
lawyers with individuals looking for specific expertise to handle their legal
issues. D.C. Bar President Shaun M. Snyder says the Bar is leading the
way in leveraging emerging technology to serve the community.
" We are the first bar in the country that has a lawyer referral service powered
by artificial intelligence, " Snyder says. " That's a remarkable vehicle
for helping the public reach our members, and for our members to reach
the public. " Gone are the days of people having to click on drop-down
menus to read descriptions of a lawyer's services, he adds. " This is a
much more meaningful way for members to present the services they
32 WASHINGTON LAWYER
* SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
The LRS operates without D.C.
Bar license fee funding, and to
avoid potential ethical issues, the
Bar has no input in fee setting or
other aspects of representation
created through the LRS. To date,
more than 700 attorneys have already
registered for the service,
ready to be matched with clients.
" I like that in this model you pay
your subscription fee, and how
you work your practice is up to
you, " says D.C. Bar Board of Governors
member Diane Seltzer.
" Membership in the LRS is not
dictating how you handle fees
going forward. "
RIGHT SERVICE
AT THE RIGHT TIME
Lawyer referral services have been around for decades, and many bar associations
throughout the country have established their own as a mechanism
to make it easier for people to find a lawyer who suits their needs.
The D.C. Bar had a lawyer referral service back in the 1970s, predating the
internet. The service focused primarily on pro bono clients, who called a
telephone hotline to get connected to the appropriate legal services organization
for assistance.
" This had a number of limitations, " says Dr. Caterina Luppi, the Bar's
chief information officer. " It was concerning to tell another human being
about your issues. Second, [too] many lawyers needed to be involved,
and it was all on paper. The process wasn't efficient. " The service came to
a natural end as the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center developed its own intake
and hotline systems.
As technology evolved, lawyer referral services operated under a keyword
search system to connect attorneys with potential clients. " This
system worked, but it had a few flaws, " Luppi says. Some users engage in
keyword packing, resulting in inappropriate matches. A second drawback
is that clients often do not know what kind of attorney they need
and may not be capable of identifying the appropriate practice area or
keyword to use to find the right lawyer.
Jati Lindsay
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024

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