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City Attorney proposes AI legal research subscriptions; local attorney eyed for conflict public-defender work
Summary
City Attorney Michael Harrington proposed adding employee-evaluation and AI-enabled legal research software to the Legal Department budget and said a local attorney (Daniel Sam Jr.) has expressed interest in serving as conflict public defender at a higher monthly rate after Nate Rawlings' departure.
City Attorney Michael Harrington said most Legal Department line items remain consistent with prior years but recommended new subscriptions, including employee evaluation software and legal research tools that incorporate artificial intelligence. Harrington said these tools have matured enough to justify the ongoing subscription expense.
He also discussed public-defender services: the proposed increase in public-defense costs is primarily due to the departure of attorney Nate Rawlings and the need for conflict counsel. Harrington reported a local attorney, Daniel Sam Jr., expressed interest in providing those services at a higher monthly rate than previously paid; staff indicated a new agreement will be presented at an upcoming Council meeting.
