Harnessing Generative AI in Law: Balancing Innovation with Ethical and Practical Risks (Good for One Hour Ethics/LEPR CLE Credit)

Ethical Obligations of Lawyers When Facing Challenges Presented by Generative AI (Good for One Hour Ethics/LEPR CLE Credit)

The Intersection of Technology and Mental Health : Improving Wellness for Lawyers (Good for One Hour MH/SA  CLE Credit)

Seminar Description

This session examines how South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS), an LSC-funded nonprofit law firm, is thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence into daily operations to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and organizational impact. Drawing on real-world experience supported by a 2025 Central Carolina Community Foundation grant, the presenters will discuss how AI is used, from an administrative and IT perspective, to support document drafting, employment and HR matters, budgeting and financial analysis, benefits review, internal communications, and even grant writing—contributing to more than $1 million in new funding secured in a single year.

The session will also address how AI is embedded in legal practice through tools such as LexisNexis for legal research, as well as emerging IT applications, including workflow automation, data management, cybersecurity considerations, and system integration. Attendees will gain practical insights into responsible AI adoption in a legal services environment, governance considerations for LSC-funded organizations, and the expanding possibilities of AI to learn institutional style, manage large datasets, and support mission-driven legal work.

Faculty

• Kenneth J. Elliott, Webmaster/IT Support Specialist, South Carolina Legal Services
• Shunna V. Jeter, Executive Director, South Carolina Legal Services

Part of the TechInLaw Summer/Fall LegalTech Digital Asset Convergence Series

Thursday, July 31, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 PM
Online Seminar Only via Zoom
One Hour MCLE Credit 256536ADO

Register Here for the Seminar

Featured Speakers

• Dennis Fassuliotis, President, South Carolina Emerging Technology Association (SCETA)
• David Pope, Commissioner, Wyoming Stable Token Commission
• Brandi Reynolds, Chief Compliance Officer, World Liberty Financial & SCETA Board Member

Session Overview

This foundational session launches the TechInLaw Summer/Fall 2025 Seminar Series with a bold exploration of how blockchain and AI are reshaping law, finance, and state sovereignty. Dennis Fassuliotis will introduce the #AI=$BTC framework, which argues that digital capital and artificial intelligence are structurally parallel forces, both decentralizing trust and displacing traditional intermediaries through autonomous, self-verifying systems.

The session also provides timely context around two landmark federal initiatives: the GENIUS Act (governing stablecoins) and the CLARITY Act (defining digital asset market structure). Both bills are landmark legislation designed to provide regulatory clarity and were championed early by Senator Tim Scott and supported by SCETA, advocates for state-led solutions that preserve innovation, economic autonomy, and legal clarity.

Joining the discussion, David Pope will offer insider insight into Wyoming’s Stable Token Act, its “first to market” groundbreaking approach to a state-backed digital currency and the international opportunities and recognition it brings to Wyoming. Brandi Reynolds, a SCETA Board Member and nationally respected compliance expert, will add real-world perspective on how emerging financial institutions and regulatory systems are adapting to this convergence of technology, policy, and market structure.

Together, these voices frame a compelling case for South Carolina to take a leading role in the nation, not only in advancing responsible AI and blockchain policy, but in building the legal and economic infrastructure of the post-intermediary age.

Key Topics Include

• The #AI=$BTC Framework: Exploring how AI and digital capital work together to power trustless, decentralized systems, and introducing SCETA’s approach to governing digital assets and open-source AI.
• The GENIUS and CLARITY Acts: What these landmark federal bills mean for AI and crypto regulation, and how South Carolina helped shape the national policy conversation
• The Wyoming Stable Token Model: Legal structure, monetary design, and the potential for replication as a stablecoin blueprint for other states
• State Leadership in Public Finance Innovation: Lessons from South Carolina’s $1.8 billion Ledger Crisis and how blockchain and AI can prevent systemic accounting failures, restore public trust, and modernize state finance

CLE Details

• Format: 1-hour Continuing Legal Education (CLE) session
• Virtual attendance via Zoom
• CLE Credit: Credit pending approval through the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission

Audience

• Legal professionals
• Policymakers
• Regulators
• Blockchain and AI developers
• Law students and legal tech scholars

Learning Objectives

• Understand the convergence of decentralized technologies and legal frameworks
• Analyze federal and state policy initiatives, including the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts
• Evaluate stable token policy and digital public finance models in practice
• Assess South Carolina’s unique position to lead in digital legal innovation

Part of the TechInLaw Summer/Fall LegalTech Digital Asset Convergence Series

Thursday, September 11, 2025 @ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
In Person Seminar Only
Karen J. Williams Courtroom. USC Rice School of Law
One Hour SC MCLE Credit 257070|

Register Here for the Seminar

This CLE session offers legal professionals an in-depth review of five transformative South Carolina bills shaping the state’s leadership in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital asset regulation. We’ll unpack H.3454, S.225, S.163, H.4256, and H.3751, exploring their legal mechanics, policy goals, and importance in maintaining South Carolina’s status as a tech-forward state.

CLE Outline & Timetable

Time	Segment	Description
0:00 – 0:10	Welcome & Context	Moderator briefly introduces “digital sovereignty” and the significance of these bills in the context of the AI=BTC framework. CLE Question #1 presented.
0:10 – 0:40	Bill Deep-Dive (30 min)	Legal impacts of each bill, in sequence:
	H.3454 – UCC Modernization	Updates the Uniform Commercial Code to include electronic and hybrid transactions, addressing negotiable instruments, electronic documents, and records.
	S.225 – AI Resolution	Advocates for open-source, decentralized AI and opposes censorship while promoting ethical and innovation-friendly AI development.
	S.163 – Financial Freedom Act	Prohibits central bank digital currencies for state use, protects digital asset users from disparate tax or zoning treatment, and frees crypto-mining and staking from certain licensing requirements.
	H.4256 – Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Act	Authorizes the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state funds in digital assets (e.g. Bitcoin) with secure storage, reporting, and transparency measures.
	H.3751 – Crypto Capital Gains Exclusion	Removes South Carolina state income tax on gains from digital assets, aligning treatment with federal taxable income definitions.
0:40 – 0:55	Panel Discussion / Q&A	Guided by moderator, panelists explore strategic implications: - Which bills will have the strongest impact on legal practice? - How can law firms prepare for these changes? - What are the risks of inaction?
0:55 – 1:00	Closing & CLE Polling

Why These Bills Matter for South Carolina

- Legal Clarity & Infrastructure: H.3454 fortifies SC’s commercial code for digital transactions.
- Ethical AI Advocacy: S.225 sets values-based AI policy that supports innovation.
- Financial Freedom & Innovation: S.163 enables crypto adoption without burdensome licensing or discrimination.
- Treasury Modernization: H.4256 gives the state tools to diversify assets and guard against inflation.
- Market Competitiveness: H.3751 creates a tax advantage for digital asset investors and businesses.

Faculty Bios

Dennis Fassuliotis
President, South Carolina Emerging Technology Association (SCETA)

Dennis Fassuliotis is a prominent advocate for emerging technologies and currently serves as President of the South Carolina Emerging Technology Association (SCETA). In this role, he has led statewide efforts to modernize financial infrastructure, support blockchain innovation, and position South Carolina as a leader in digital asset policy. He previously founded and led Palmetto Chain Incorporated, the state’s first nonprofit dedicated to digital asset advocacy.

Fassuliotis played a pivotal role in drafting the South Carolina Blockchain Empowerment Act of 2019, as well as leading the drafting teams behind South Carolina Senate Resolution 1158 (2020) and Senate Resolution 225 (2025). The latter represents a landmark resolution, marking the first of its kind to support both open-source artificial intelligence development and cryptocurrency innovation at the state level.

Through SCETA, Fassuliotis also spearheaded the development of the #AI=$BTC report, a foundational document that outlines the economic case for aligning artificial intelligence infrastructure with Bitcoin’s monetary model. As a long-standing proponent of the Bitcoin circular economy, he also founded South Carolina Blockchain Incorporated, an organization focused on education and economic development in the blockchain space.

Graham Newman
Partner, Chappell, Chappell & Newman

Graham Newman’s work focuses on complex litigation, including products liability and class actions. He is currently involved in many different areas of multidistrict litigation (MDL), including MDL 2738 (IN RE: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation), MDL 2741 (IN RE: Roundup Products Liability Litigation), and MDL 2885 (IN RE: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation). Presently, he is also litigating a class action regarding the unlawful sale of cryptocurrency.

Graham has previously focused on commercial class actions, contractual litigation, insurance bad faith, and products liability in both state and federal court. His trial court victories have included a $14.5 million insurance bad faith verdict, an $8 million class action judgment, and a $4.75 million products liability verdict. Recently, Graham also served as one of the leading attorneys in Parler v. SCANA Corporation, et al., a derivative and securities class action that resulted in a $63 million settlement.

Graham has briefed numerous appeals before the South Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court. He has also argued four cases before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and two cases before the South Carolina Supreme Court. Notable appellate court victories include the following: Bovain v. Canal Insurance Company, 383 S.C. 100, 678 S.E.2d 422 (S.C. 2009); Ward v. Dixie Nat. Life Ins. Co., 595 F.3d 164 (4th Cir. 2010); Stevens & Wilkinson of S.C., Inc. v. City of Columbia, 409 S.C. 563, 762 S.E.2d 693 (2014); Kirven v. Cent. States Health & Life Co., of Omaha, 409 S.C. 30, 760 S.E.2d 794 (2014); and State v. Samuel, 411 S.C. 602, 769 S.E.2d 662 (2015).

In addition to practicing law, Graham teaches an undergraduate legal course through the University of South Carolina Honors College and serves on several boards and committees dedicated to the improvement of the judicial system. Graham is married to Jenny Honeycutt Newman, who is also an attorney. The couple have a son, a Portuguese Water Dog, and a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. The Newman family enjoys spending time on Lake Murray and attending as many South Carolina Gamecock sporting events as possible.

Part of the TechInLaw Summer/Fall LegalTech Digital Asset Convergence Series

Thursday, September 25, 2025 @ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Zoom Seminar Only 
One Hour SC MCLE Credit 256929ADO

Register Here for the Seminar

Program

• Welcome & Framing
• Gary Moore: Welcome & CLE requirements
• Dennis Fassuliotis:
• Moderator Graham Newman
• Introduce the Legal Jam Session concept
• Analogy: Charleston’s jazz history — a place where great musicians improvise together, blending skill and style to create something new
• Our “house band” for today’s jam:
• John Deaton (litigation & policy riffs — bold solos that cut through the noise)
• Gerald Gallagher
• Why this format works: just like jazz, legal innovation thrives on interaction, improvisation, and responsiveness to the moment

Setting the Stage

• Dennis Fassuliotis
• Introduce the #AI=$BTC report as today’s “sheet music” — the common theme everyone will improvise around
• Outline today’s goal: explore the report’s impact on litigation, compliance, policy, and the future of law
• Confirm the flow: open discussion between panelists, followed by audience “call-and-response” in the Q&A

Panel Jam 🎷🎸🥁

• Panelists “take turns” with their solos, building on each other’s points:
• Immediate legal and regulatory implications of the #AI=$BTC framework
• AI + blockchain convergence in litigation strategy and evidence
• Compliance, structuring, and client advisory considerations
• State-level innovation’s role in shaping national policy
• Opportunities and risks for the legal profession

Audience Call-and-Response 🎤

• Open Q&A from in-person attendees
• Encourage building on previous answers — like a jam where each instrument picks up the last riff

Final Chorus & CLE Polling  

Faculty Bios

John E. Deaton
Founder, CryptoLaw | Attorney & Advocate for Digital Asset Holders

John Deaton, managing partner of The Deaton Law Firm, LLC, is a former Decorated Marine Officer and passionate advocate for all of his clients. While he has specialized in toxic tort litigation for over 20 years, he has closely followed the evolution of cryptocurrency and founded Crypto Law US IN 2021. John was counsel for Amici in the high-profile SEC v. Ripple, et al. case, representing the interests of over 76,000 XRP holders around the world. John was also Amicus counsel in SEC v Coinbase and SEC v LBRY.

John’s advocacy on behalf of the individual token holders is well known and has led to John regularly appearing on cable news outlets such as Fox Business as a crypto expert. His efforts were cited by a Federal Judge in her ruling in the Ripple cases. Crypto Law has become an information hub for the latest crypto news and provides a revolutionary platform for consumers to contact the U.S. Congress as part of John’s greater mission of decentralized justice. John’s relentless efforts in the crypto and blockchain space have all been done pro bono. Because of his generosity and massive contribution to helping foster innovation in America, coupled with his focus on representing the interests of token holders and not corporations, John has been awarded the ICBLA Defender of Freedom Award, Consumer Advocate of the Year Award by the Digital Chamber of Commerce, Lawyer of the Year by Lawyers Weekly, as well as was named Rhode Island Lawyer of the year.

Dennis Fassuliotis
President, South Carolina Emerging Technology Association (SCETA)

Dennis Fassuliotis is a prominent advocate for emerging technologies and currently serves as President of the South Carolina Emerging Technology Association (SCETA). In this role, he has led statewide efforts to modernize financial infrastructure, support blockchain innovation, and position South Carolina as a leader in digital asset policy. He previously founded and led Palmetto Chain Incorporated, the state’s first nonprofit dedicated to digital asset advocacy.

Fassuliotis played a pivotal role in drafting the South Carolina Blockchain Empowerment Act of 2019, as well as leading the drafting teams behind South Carolina Senate Resolution 1158 (2020) and Senate Resolution 225 (2025). The latter represents a landmark resolution, marking the first of its kind to support both open-source artificial intelligence development and cryptocurrency innovation at the state level.

Through SCETA, Fassuliotis also spearheaded the development of the #AI=$BTC report, a foundational document that outlines the economic case for aligning artificial intelligence infrastructure with Bitcoin’s monetary model. As a long-standing proponent of the Bitcoin circular economy, he also founded South Carolina Blockchain Incorporated, an organization focused on education and economic development in the blockchain space.

Gerald Gallagher
General Counsel, Sei Labs 

Gerald Gallagher is the General Counsel at Sei Labs and Co-Host of the Crypto in America Podcast, alongside Eleanor Terrett and Jacquelyn Melinek. In addition to his work at Sei Labs, Gerald is the Co-Founder of DC DAO, a limited cooperative association focused on fostering community, innovation, and policy within the web3 and blockchain ecosystem. He also co-founded Vellum, a cutting-edge platform designed to simplify and streamline the legal and operational complexities of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and blockchain-based projects.

Additionally, Gerald is a Charter Member of TechGC and co-founded Red Clay Capital, an investing seed to Series A in fintech, healthcare and other heavily regulated industries. Previously, he worked as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at NATION. Gerald received his B.A., J.D., and M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina and his LLM from Duke University.

Graham Newman
Partner, Chappell, Chappell & Newman

Graham Newman’s work focuses on complex litigation, including products liability and class actions. He is currently involved in many different areas of multidistrict litigation (MDL), including MDL 2738 (IN RE: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation), MDL 2741 (IN RE: Roundup Products Liability Litigation), and MDL 2885 (IN RE: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation). Presently, he is also litigating a class action regarding the unlawful sale of cryptocurrency.

Graham has previously focused on commercial class actions, contractual litigation, insurance bad faith, and products liability in both state and federal court. His trial court victories have included a $14.5 million insurance bad faith verdict, an $8 million class action judgment, and a $4.75 million products liability verdict. Recently, Graham also served as one of the leading attorneys in Parler v. SCANA Corporation, et al., a derivative and securities class action that resulted in a $63 million settlement.

Graham has briefed numerous appeals before the South Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court. He has also argued four cases before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and two cases before the South Carolina Supreme Court. Notable appellate court victories include the following: Bovain v. Canal Insurance Company, 383 S.C. 100, 678 S.E.2d 422 (S.C. 2009); Ward v. Dixie Nat. Life Ins. Co., 595 F.3d 164 (4th Cir. 2010); Stevens & Wilkinson of S.C., Inc. v. City of Columbia, 409 S.C. 563, 762 S.E.2d 693 (2014); Kirven v. Cent. States Health & Life Co., of Omaha, 409 S.C. 30, 760 S.E.2d 794 (2014); and State v. Samuel, 411 S.C. 602, 769 S.E.2d 662 (2015).

In addition to practicing law, Graham teaches an undergraduate legal course through the University of South Carolina Honors College and serves on several boards and committees dedicated to the improvement of the judicial system. Graham is married to Jenny Honeycutt Newman, who is also an attorney. The couple have a son, a Portuguese Water Dog, and a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. The Newman family enjoys spending time on Lake Murray and attending as many South Carolina Gamecock sporting events as possible.

September 25, 2025 @ 2:40 PM – 4:00 PM
In Person Seminar Only
Karen J. Williams Courtroom, USC Rice School of Law
One Hour MCLE CLE Credit 257269

Register Here for the Seminar

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the legal industry by storm — and is a rapidly evolving technology that holds immense potential for transforming various aspects of our lives. AI has the power to revolutionize the legal profession and drive innovation. However, as we embark on this exciting journey, it is crucial to emphasize responsible AI development and deployment. Join us to gain a better understanding of how to approach AI with a responsible mindset and how to best harness its capabilities.

Two years ago,  we conducted this very same seminar.   Join us again for an engaging panel discussion featuring renowned experts and early adopters of AI technology who will share their firsthand experiences, success stories, and challenges encountered while working with AI and integrating AI into their organizations, as well as what has happened in the two years since we had the first seminar panel.  From machine learning to natural language processing, we will explore cutting-edge AI applications, exploring how they are revolutionizing sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and, of course, legal. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with thought leaders at the forefront of AI innovation and explore the endless possibilities this technology holds.

Faculty

• Moderator – Kevin Brown, Mitchell Willoughby Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
• John Motz, Chief Technology Officer, NetDocuments
• Bryant Walker Smith, Associate Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Faculty Bios

Kevin Brown  - Professor Kevin Brown joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Law on June 1, 2022.  Before that, he had been on the faculty of Indiana University Maurer School of Law since 1987.  In 1978, Brown graduated with distinction from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, where he majored in Accounting.  Brown graduated from Yale Law School in 1982.  After graduation, he joined the Indianapolis law firm of Baker & Daniels (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) until 1987. 

He teaches Torts, Law and Education, Race & Law, and Transnational Inequality on a regular basis but has also taught Law & Education, Criminal Law, Sports Law and Law & Development.  Brown has been a visiting professor at the University of Texas School of Law, the University of Alabama School of Law, and the University of San Diego School of Law.  He has been affiliated with universities on four different continents including the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, India; the Indian Law Institute in New Delhi, India; the law faculty of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa; the law faculty of the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa; Adilet Law School in Almaty, Kazakhstan; the University of Central America in Managua, Nicaragua; and the School of Transnational Law of Peking University in Shenzhen. Brown also spent the spring semester of 2014 teaching in the London Law School Consortium Program.

Brown was an original participant in both the first Critical Race Theory Workshop held in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1989 (as well as the next four annual workshops) and the first People of Color Conference held in Chicago in 1991.  For over 35 years, his primary research interests are in the areas of race, law, and education, and the global impact of the African-American struggle.  Brown has published over 80 articles or comments on issues such as critical race theory, school desegregation, affirmative action, African-American Immersion Schools, increasing school choice, the impact of the African-Americans on the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, and the inspiration the 250 million Dalits in India have drawn from African-Americans.  Carolina Academic Press published his 2005 book, Race, Law and Education in the Post Desegregation Era, and his 2014 book, Because of Our Success:  The Changing Racial and Ethnic Ancestry of Blacks on Affirmative Action.  His chapter, entitled "The History and Conceptual Elements of Critical Race Theory," is the first chapter in the Handbook of Critical Race Theory in Education. 

A frequent speaker at scholarly conferences, Brown has spoken on issues of race, education, diversity, or the global impact of African-Americans over 300 times including at the annual Convention of the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus Braintrust Meetings, the National Bar Association, the National Summit of Black Women Lawyers, the American Bar Association,  the Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court, and the High Commission of India in London; at several leading law schools and universities including Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Duke, Cornell, Emory, Northwestern, UCLA, and Texas; and several overseas institutions including at Oxford University, the University of Mumbai, University of Kasel, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Al-Quds University outside Jerusalem, Jindal Global Law School, and the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

John Motz – John Motz is the Chief Technology Officer for NetDocuments.  He is a technology-savvy leader with over twenty-five years’ experience in SMB and Enterprise SaaS software, utilizing creativity, facilitative leadership, and teamwork to design strategies and execute solutions that create products and services customers love.  Motz is an effective communicator with the ability to create visions that inspire employees, conveying value for customers and shareholders. He has experience managing global product development teams and collaborating with large local field sales teams and global channel sales organizations.

Prior to joining NetDocuments, Motz was SVP of Mindbody Software, which develops wellness software. He has also been CTO of GrayMeta Inc., vice president of product at ADP, and product and development leader at Intuit.

Motz recently co-authored a guest post with Dan Hauck. Chief product officer at NetDocuments, on Legal IT Insider “ Guest post: Moving fast but responsibly – A briefing from NetDocuments on the promise and pitfalls of generative AI”. 

Bryant Walker Smith - Bryant Walker Smith is an associate professor in the School of Law and (by courtesy) the School of Engineering at the University of South Carolina, as well as an affiliate scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School.

Trained as a lawyer and an engineer, Smith advises cities, states, countries, and the United Nations on emerging transport technologies. He coauthored the globally influential levels of driving automation, drafted a model law for automated driving, and taught the first legal course dedicated to automated driving [pdf] (in 2012). Smith is currently writing on what it means for a company to be trustworthy. His publications are available at newlypossible.org.

Before joining the University of South Carolina, Smith led the legal aspects of the automated driving program at Stanford University, clerked for the Hon. Evan J. Wallach at the United States Court of International Trade, and worked as a fellow at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He holds both an LL.M. in International Legal Studies and a J.D. (cum laude) from New York University School of Law and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his legal career, Smith worked as a transportation engineer.

The Lincoln-Douglas Society at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
“Social Media Companies Should Be Liable for the Content on their Platforms.”
October 27, 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Karen J. Williams Courtoom
University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
One Hour of FREE MCLE CLE Credit 258029

Register Here for the Seminar

The Lincoln-Douglas Society is pleased to announce its final debate of the fall, entitled "Social Media Companies Should Be Liable for the Content on Their Platforms: Yes or No.”

Discourse on social media has become increasingly caustic. Misinformation abounds— much of it carrying real-world consequences. And with the rise of artificial intelligence, it has become increasingly difficult to trust our own eyes. All this leads to the question—should social media companies be held liable for the content they host? To what extent does (and should) federal law require social media companies to protect their users—from other users’ content and from
their own algorithms?

On October 27, come hear four professionals debate this subject—two arguing that social media companies should be held liable, and two arguing in opposition. Supporting the proposition will be Professor Bryant Walker Smith of the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, joined by Will Kulp, a third-year law student and technology editor of the South Carolina Law Review. Spearheading the opposition will be Professor Enrique Armijo of Elon University School of Law, joined by Kaitlyn Leeper, a joint J.D. and IMBA student.

All are welcome to attend. The debate will run from 7:00 PM until 8:15 PM in the Karen J. Williams Courtroom at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law (room 103), with a reception to follow. We appreciate our sponsors, TechInLaw and the Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Center on Professionalism, for partnering with us for this event and reception.

Speaker Biographies
Proposition:

Professor Bryant Walker Smith
 

Professor Bryant Walker Smith is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina, serving both the School of Law and the College of Engineering and Computing. He is also an Affiliate Scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School. Before joining the  University of South Carolina, Professor Smith led the Legal Aspects of Automated Driving program at  Stanford University, served as a Fellow at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 
and served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Evan J. Wallach of the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Professor Smith’s research and teaching focuses on the law and policy of emerging transportation  technologies. He advises cities, states, national governments, and the United Nations on issues  related to automated, connected, and electric mobility. He coauthored the globally influential  Levels of Driving Automation, drafted a model law for automated driving, and taught the first legal course dedicated to automated driving.

He earned an LL.M. in International Legal Studies and a J.D. (cum laude) from New York University  School of Law and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his legal  career, Professor Smith worked as a transportation engineer.

William Kulp

William (Will) Kulp is a third-year law student at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice  School of Law. Will graduated from the College of Charleston in 2017 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in  Chemistry. During his undergraduate studies, he received an NIH grant for genetics research, engaged in marine biology field research, and worked as an EMT. Prior to law school, Will lived in New York City and Charleston — working as a nightclub manager, a bartender, and a fitness trainer.

At the University of South Carolina, Will serves as the Technology Editor of the South Carolina Law  Review. Following graduation, he will serve as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Robert E. Hood of South Carolina’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.

Opposition:

Professor Enrique Armijo

Professor Enrique Armijo is Professor of Law at Elon University School of Law and a Faculty Affiliate with both the Yale Law School Information Society Project and the UNC-Chapel Hill Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life. Before entering academia, he practiced law in Washington, D.C., served as a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, and clerked for the Honorable Karen L. Henderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Professor Armijo’s teaching and scholarship focuses on the First Amendment, constitutional law, torts, administrative law, media and internet law, and international freedom of expression. His scholarship has been cited by the FCC, the FEC, other agencies, and in testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. He has provided advice on media and internet law reform to governments, stakeholders and NGOs located around the world.

He earned a J.D. from the University of North Carolina, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the North Carolina Law Review.

Kaitlyn Leeper

Kaitlyn Leeper is a second-year student in the Joint JD and IMBA program at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law and Darla Moore School of Business.

Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Kaitlyn earned her undergraduate degree from Drake University, where she majored in International Business and minored in Business Law and Management, while competing as a Division I athlete on the university’s crew team.

At the University of South Carolina, Kaitlyn serves as Co-President of the International Law Society and as the Arbitrator of Writing for the Vis Moot Team. She has continued her summer research with Professor David Linnan, researching the intersection of procedural justice and psychology.

Presented By Jack Pringle of Nelson Mullins
University of South Carolina School of Law
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 8:00 am
Zoom Webinar Only
One Hour of SC CLE Ethics Credit 258034ADO

Register Here for the Seminar

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) continues to be heralded and maligned as both the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems. (Apologies to John Swartzwelder).

In the legal arena, those attorneys who’ve cited non-existent cases “produced” by GAI to a tribunal have caused for themselves ethical problems (and more). And despite headlines touting GAI as “transformational,” a “game changer,” and “disruptive,” most of us are kicking the tires rather than getting behind the wheel.

As such, AI appears to be firmly mired in the “Trough of Disillusionment” (Gartner), where “inflated expectations” have given way to the harsh realizations that 1) success is not just a matter of plugging and playing, and 2) improper use can be dangerous.

Like all powerful tools, AI applications offer many possibilities. However, exploring that potential (and the corresponding risks) is impossible without 1) understanding the tools and how they work; 2) understanding our relationship with these tools before we put them to work; and 3) matching AI tools to appropriate tasks.

The Rules of Professional Responsibility (Rules 1.1. 1.6, 1.15, 3.3, 5.1. and 5.3, among others) and the Rules of Civil Procedure (particularly Rule 11) require attorneys to understand the potential pitfalls of employing “God-like technology” (Apologies to E.O. Wilson). Reflexively or unreflectively accepting AI decision-making processes as a “black box” or inherently opaque is not helpful in this evaluation process. The certainty and “confidence” with some GAI applications provide unsourced “answers” that would set off alarm bells if delivered by a human.

This presentation will encourage the legal profession to use skepticism and critical thinking skills to move beyond the hype, demystify AI, and get our hands dirty in learning how to use and interact responsibly with these tools.

Faculty

Jack Pringle,  JD, CIPP/US, Partner, Nelson Mullins

Faculty Bios

Jack Pringle is an attorney with Nelson Mullins in Columbia.

Jack helps companies manage information, address regulatory challenges, and explore potential opportunities in a changing technology landscape. He has more than 25 years of experience helping businesses, including public utilities, in navigating the legal requirements applicable to their operations. Jack helps organizations design information governance strategies, implement and strengthen information security and privacy programs, and negotiate and manage technology contracts and third-party relationships.

Part of the TechInLaw Summer/Fall LegalTech Digital Asset Convergence Series
University of South Carolina School of Law
Thursday, November 20, 2025, 8:00 am
Zoom Webinar Only
One Hour of SC MCLE CLE Credit 258410ADO

Register Here for the Seminar

Brief Description: Dennis Fassuliotis frames the session with the concept of “Immutable History”, connecting public trust, technology, and legal systems. Then there will be a screening of a 2-minute video from SimpleProof, highlighting how Screven County, GA used the Bitcoin blockchain to verify voter rolls—making it the first U.S. county to audit an election with public cryptographic tools.

Presenter Stacy Scott explains how blockchain applications were used in voter roll integrity and election audits. Carlos Toriello offers insight into why Bitcoin (not just any blockchain) was chosen for compliance-grade verification for their application.

Faculty

Moderator
Dennis Fassuliotis, President, SCETA.io

Panelists & Presenters
Stacy Scott – Screven County, GA Elections Administrator
Carlos Toriello – Chief Executive Officer, SimpleProof.com