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In July 2025, a federal judge in Alabama sanctioned three attorneys for citing nonexistent cases generated by ChatGPT. That same spring, a Utah lawyer paid $1,000 to a legal aid foundation, and an Indiana federal judge fined an attorney $6,000—all for the same mistake: filing AI-generated “hallucinations” without verification.
A Duke University database now tracks 106 cases worldwide where AI hallucinations appeared in court documents. South Carolina attorneys are taking notice.
SC Supreme Court Responds
On March 25, 2025, Chief Justice John Kittredge issued an Interim Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in response to “the increasing use of artificial intelligence systems in legal research.” The policy doesn’t directly regulate private attorneys, but it establishes clear expectations: AI can assist, but cannot replace human judgment.
“The institutions around law, whether it’s judges or lawyers, operate on some certain function of trust,” University of South Carolina technology and law professor David Sella-Villa told the SC Daily Gazette in September 2025.
South Carolina joins approximately 10 states where courts have issued AI guidance. Connecticut drafted a 21-page framework. Michigan’s Supreme Court contracted with an AI platform built specifically for judges. Some jurisdictions now require lawyers to sign statements about AI use under penalty of perjury.
For South Carolina attorneys, understanding these developments is crucial—similar to staying current on ethical rules and professional standards.
The Industry Divide
While sanctions make headlines, a more significant story is unfolding: AI adoption among legal professionals jumped from 19% in 2023 to 79% in 2024, according to Clio’s Legal Trends Report. But firm-wide adoption tells a different story.
Small firms with 50 or fewer lawyers report only 20% AI adoption rates—half the 39% rate among firms with 51+ lawyers. Mid-sized firms are investing in document review, client intake systems, and communication tools. Many solo and small firms remain cautious, citing resource constraints and ethical concerns.
Yet momentum is building. Smokeball’s 2025 State of Law Report found that 53% of small firms and solo practitioners now integrate AI into workflows, nearly double the 27% rate from 2023. Over 80% of legal professionals across all firm sizes expect AI use to grow this year.
What Clients Are Thinking
Client perception is shifting. According to Clio’s research, 70% of clients either prefer or are neutral toward firms using AI. When choosing legal representation, 42% said they’d prefer a firm using or exploring AI, 28% had no preference, and 31% preferred firms not using AI.
The same research revealed that up to 74% of hourly billable tasks—information gathering, data analysis, document drafting—could be automated with AI. Immigration practitioners lead individual adoption at 47%, followed by personal injury (37%) and civil litigation (36%).
Just as Greenville law firms need strong online visibility to compete, firms must now address client questions about technology capabilities.
The Marketing Gap
Here’s what matters for law firms: clients are asking about AI capabilities, but many firm websites don’t address the question. When potential clients research attorneys online, they’re looking for indicators of modern, efficient practice.
Law firms adopting AI face a communication challenge. How do you tell clients you’re using technology responsibly without triggering concerns about quality or personal attention?
This is where strategic website content, practice area descriptions, and attorney bios become critical. Firms that acknowledge technology adoption while emphasizing human oversight and professional judgment position themselves as both modern and trustworthy.
Effective communication requires the same thought leadership and authority-building that distinguishes leading practitioners in any area of law.
At Toppe Consulting, we help law firms communicate their technology adoption to clients through website content, SEO strategy, and digital marketing that positions firms as forward-thinking while maintaining traditional values of personal service and professional expertise.
The legal industry is changing rapidly. Your website should reflect where your practice is heading, not just where it’s been.
About Toppe Consulting: We provide website development, SEO, and digital marketing services exclusively for law firms, helping attorneys communicate their value to modern clients.
Ready to update your firm’s digital presence? Contact us to discuss how we can help position your firm for today’s legal marketplace.
About the Author
Jim Toppe is the founder of Toppe Consulting, a digital marketing agency specializing in law firms. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Clemson University and teaches Business Law at Greenville Technical College. Jim also serves as publisher and editor for South Carolina Manufacturing, a digital magazine. His unique background combines legal knowledge with digital marketing expertise to help attorneys grow their practices through compliant, results-driven strategies.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Attorneys should consult the SC Supreme Court’s Interim Policy on AI and their own professional judgment regarding AI use in their practice.
Works Cited
“AI Adoption Nearly Doubles Among Small Law Firms, According to Smokeball’s 2025 State of Law Report.” LawSites, 17 Mar. 2025, www.lawnext.com/2025/03/ai-adoption-nearly-doubles-among-small-law-firms-according-to-smokeballs-2025-state-of-law-report.html.
“AI-Hallucinated Cases End Up in More Court Filings, and Butler Snow Issues Apology for ‘Inexcusable’ Lapse.” ABA Journal, www.abajournal.com/news/article/ai-hallucinated-cases-end-up-in-more-legal-documents-and-butler-snow-issues-apology-for-inexcusable-lapse. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Ambrogi, Robert J. “AI Adoption by Legal Professionals Jumps from 19% to 79% in One Year, Clio Study Finds.” LawSites, 7 Oct. 2024, www.lawnext.com/2024/10/ai-adoption-by-legal-professionals-jumps-from-19-to-79-in-one-year-clio-study-finds.html.
“Clio Releases 2025 Legal Trends for Solo and Small Law Firms Report.” Clio, 8 May 2025, www.clio.com/about/press/legal-trends-solo-small-law-firms-2025.
Holdman, Jessica. “With Bad AI in Courtrooms Increasing, SC Chief Justice Joins States Giving Guidance.” SC Daily Gazette, 3 Sept. 2025, scdailygazette.com/2025/09/03/with-use-of-ai-increasing-sc-chief-justice-joins-states-giving-orders-on-its-use-in-courtrooms.
“Interim Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence.” South Carolina Judicial Branch, 25 Mar. 2025, www.sccourts.org/about/court-news/2025-08-15/interim-policy-on-the-use-of-generative-artificial-intelligence.
“Judge Sanctions Lawyers Defending Alabama’s Prisons For Citing Fake Cases From AI.” Insurance Journal, 28 July 2025, www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2025/07/28/833402.htm.
“The Legal Industry Report 2025.” American Bar Association, 16 Apr. 2025, www.americanbar.org/groups/law_practice/resources/law-technology-today/2025/the-legal-industry-report-2025.
The Supreme Court of South Carolina. “Order Re: Interim Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence.” 25 Mar. 2025, www.sccourts.org/media/courtOrders/PDFs/2025-03-25-01.pdf.
