The Law Clerk’s Law Clerk

 U.S. Circuit Court law clerk Matthew N. Preston II spent considerable time running the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT through extensive testing in various aspects of his work and life. His article “The Law Clerk’s Law Clerk” in the September 2025 Illinois bar Journal is his firsthand account of that experience. Preston describes how tools like ChatGPT might help—and hinder—the judiciary, particularly the law clerks tasked with preparing judges for their decisions. His initial inquiry into this realm was driven by curiosity, tempered by skepticism, and guided by the judges’ and clerks’ ethical duty to understand these advancements. His conclusion: There is undeniable promise in AI, but that promise requires careful stewardship.

 Read the September Illinois Bar Journal’s article, "The Law Clerk’s Law Clerk."