We are pleased to support the launch of “First Things First: Why Technical Competence Must Precede AI Literacy for Lawyers”, a new white paper from Code & Counsel, sponsored by Secretariat and Association of Certified e-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS).

Code & Counsel brings together leading women in legal technology, e-discovery and data intelligence to explore the responsible use of AI across the legal profession.

As AI becomes more embedded in legal practice, law firms face a growing challenge. How can these tools be adopted responsibly while maintaining professional standards and client trust? The paper explains that responsible AI adoption depends on a strong foundation in core legal technologies, data governance, collaboration tools and security practices.

Key themes explored in the paper include:

• Why technical competence remains a critical operational baseline for modern legal practice
• The risks of adopting AI tools without established technology foundations
• Growing expectations from clients, courts and regulators around responsible technology use
• A staged path forward for firms built on training, readiness assessments and governance controls

Firms that strengthen their technical foundations today will be far better positioned to adopt AI confidently, responsibly and at scale. Building that foundation is essential to protecting clients, meeting professional obligations and sustaining trust in legal services.

The white paper is authored by Kassi Burns (King & Spalding), Angela O’Neal (Maynard Nexsen) Fiona Campbell (Field Fisher), Peg Gianuca (Walt Disney), Jennifer Williams (Vinson & Elkins), Maribel Rivera (ACEDS), and Secretariat Managing Director Richard Finkelman.