July 2026 by J. Cliff McKinney II |
Every director knows the performance depends on the direction. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no different. It is a remarkably capable performer that can draft, edit, analyze, and organize information with impressive speed. But without direction, it produces generic, inconsistent, and sometimes unreliable work, the equivalent of a talented actor left to improvise without a script or a vision. Lawyers are now expected to take on the role of director when using AI. Becoming that director requires more than access to the technology or a willingness to experiment. It requires a shift in how lawyers think about the work itself, and prompt engineering is the language of that shift.
The above is an excerpt of an article published for Probate & Property, a publication of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. You may click the link below to read the full article.
A managing member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Cliff McKinney speaks nationwide on the rapidly evolving role of AI in law practice, covering cutting-edge tools, prompt engineering, ethical obligations, risk management, and actionable strategies lawyers can implement immediately. He has presented for organizations including the American Bar Association (ABA), the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), and has written extensively on AI for ACMA, USLAW, and the Arkansas Law Review. Mr. McKinney holds a Prompt Engineering Specialization certification from Vanderbilt University and is a Fellow of both the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.