Before You Click Accept: ARC x Reduct on Ethical AI for Criminal Defense

Jeff Sherr and Advancing Real Change host a webinar on ethical AI selection for criminal defense teams

Criminal defense teams are increasingly being asked to adopt AI tools for evidence review, transcription, and document management, often without clear guidance on how to evaluate them responsibly.

On May 26, 2026, Advancing Real Change (ARC) hosted a free webinar with Jeff Sherr, Senior Resident Public Defender at Reduct, to help defense teams better understand the ethical and practical considerations involved in selecting AI vendors.

The webinar gave criminal defenders a practical framework for evaluating legal AI tools, covering three core areas:

Protecting client confidentiality and privilege
Evaluating vendor safeguards and contract terms
Meeting professional ethical obligations under ABA and state rules

Jeff also discussed data retention risks, subprocessor liability, and the conflicts of interest that can arise when vendors serve both defense and prosecution offices.

Reduct continues to work with criminal defense teams on the ethical and practical challenges surrounding AI adoption in legal practice. Explore upcoming webinars.

About Advancing Real Change (ARC)

ARC is a national nonprofit founded in 2014 with a mission to advance empathy, dignity, and equity within the criminal legal system.

ARC provides direct mitigation services to indigent clients, offers free training and education to defense teams across the country, and works to reshape how the legal system understands the full humanity of people accused of crimes. Its training and education programs have reached more than 2,500 practitioners nationwide.