Legal Ethics of AI Snake Oil: Navigating the Hype, Harm, and Hope of Legal AI

Authors

• Drew Simshaw, University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- William S. Boyd School of Law

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This paper argues that the legal ethics of AI extend far beyond competence and hallucinations. It shows how AI often functions as a mirror, exposing deeper ethical questions about institutional incentives, lawyer wellbeing, access to justice, and AI's broader social and environmental impacts.

Comments

This is a book review of AI Snake Oil by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor.

Publication Citation

124 Mich. L. Rev. 1393 (2026).

Recommended Citation

Simshaw, Drew, "Legal Ethics of AI Snake Oil: Navigating the Hype, Harm, and Hope of Legal AI" (2026). Scholarly Works. 1563.
https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/facpub/1563