Attorneys from local government and state agencies throughout South Carolina convened in Columbia for the 2025 SC Local Government Attorneys’ Institute, hosted by the South Carolina Association of Counties.
The Nov. 21 daylong educational event featured presentations on timely topics like the ethics of using artificial intelligence and legal issues that arise during emergencies and natural disasters.
The day began with federal and state case law updates presented by Amanda Karras, executive director and general counsel with the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and Justice Gary Hill of the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Lisa Smith-Butler, a professor with the Charleston School of Law, talked with attendees about the ethical issues surrounding the growing use of AI. She discussed the use of ChatGPT, which has become prevalent in professional settings despite being released in November 2022.
While Smith-Butler talked about the benefits and useful applications of generative AI, she also shared the liabilities associated with use of it and emphasized the need for humans to review AI-created documents, especially in the legal field.
“Generative AI led to a proliferation of hallucinated cases being used in pleadings and filings,” she said, adding that this led to some courts requiring attorneys to disclose the use of generative AI in filings.
Aiken County Attorney Bradley Farrar gave a presentation about the legal issues that can arise during emergencies and natural disasters, relevant to many counties in the wake of Hurricane Helene in fall 2024.
D. Nichole Davis, who leads her own consulting firm, wove in Rules of Professional Conduct and her journey finding a mental health balance and practicing law during her session called “Burnout, Boundaries and the Myth of Balance.”
A former Department of Social Services attorney and risk management attorney and lawyer mentoring program director for the S.C. Bar, Davis pointed out the high levels of both depression and substance abuse among the legal profession.
“We entered this profession to serve others, but we don’t always prioritize taking care of ourselves,” she said. "To be a good lawyer you have to be a healthy lawyer."
She continued sharing lessons learned throughout her career both professionally and personally.
"The goal shouldn’t be balance. The goal should be establishing healthy boundaries," she said.