TheFormTool Calls on State Bar Associations to Draw a Red Line on AI in Legal Practice

“LITL™ – Lawyer in the Loop – Must Be the Standard,” Company Says

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TheFormTool, a leading provider of secure, offline legal automation tools, today issued a public call for state bar associations to take a principled stand against the unsupervised use of artificial intelligence in the practice of law.

At issue is more than innovation. It is ownership, it’s control. It’s the very future of the profession. When generative AI systems draft documents, advise clients, or shape arguments without a lawyer’s direct oversight, the legal process is no longer legal — it’s algorithmic. Privilege, confidentiality, and professional responsibility cannot exist without a Lawyer in the Loop™ (LITL™).

TheFormTool is urging state bars to draw a clear boundary: no legal services without a Lawyer in the Loop™. This principle, LITL™, is the line between tools that support lawyers — and tools that pretend to replace them.

“LITL™ is not just a guideline,” said TheFormTool CEO Bob Christensen. “It’s the Alamo of legal ethics — a point beyond which the profession cannot retreat. A human lawyer must remain responsible for what clients see, sign, and submit. Otherwise, they are no longer practicing law. They’re letting software practice it instead, often without informing the client.”

Privilege is at risk when no lawyer has reviewed or approved the result. Privacy becomes porous when data is shared with external systems for processing. Ownership of legal work becomes uncertain when AI generates the substance.

While a few bar associations — including California, Florida, and Texas — have begun to explore these issues, most have yet to fully engage. “TheFormTool commends those states that have taken first steps,” Christensen added, “but every jurisdiction has an obligation to clarify that the practice of law requires a practicing lawyer. The silence of others leaves lawyers and clients exposed.”

About TheFormTool, LLC

TheFormTool, LLC develops intelligent document automation tools trusted by thousands of law firms and professionals worldwide. Its products operate entirely offline, with no external connections or data leakage. By design, they preserve confidentiality and privilege, while delivering unmatched speed and accuracy in legal drafting — all under direct lawyer supervision.

For more information on AI and Lawyers: https://theformtool.com/lp/security/