Keil Defense

10/08/2026

This 60 Minutes story should have every lawyer thinking about how different practicing law could look in just a few years, if not sooner.

My takeaway: lawyers need to think beyond individual tasks and consider how AI could change the entire practice. What could a solo attorney accomplish with capabilities that previously required a larger team? How might faster preparation change fees, client expectations, and access to legal services?

As a criminal defense attorney, I find those possibilities exciting. I also wonder how quickly our profession will rethink the way we work. The legal profession is notorious for being late adopters of relevant technology.

Curious what others took from the story. Where do you see the biggest changes coming—for law or your own profession?

It's become a booming industry: teaching artificial intelligence how to get better at doing all kinds of jobs. As AI advances, many fear what this tech means for the future of work.

10/01/2026

Some news: I'll be speaking at Minnesota CLE's AI and the Law Conference on Monday, November 9 in Minneapolis.

My talk covers how I rebuilt my solo practice around AI on my own. The only costs were AI subscriptions and a new computer. I'll show what tools I use and what's actually different in day-to-day casework now. If you're a lawyer who's curious but isn't sure where to start, come say hi.

Monday, Nov. 9, 1:05 p.m., at the Minnesota CLE Conference Center. There's also an online replay December 3–4.

Details and registration:

The 3rd Annual AI and the Law Conference is your front-row seat to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in legal practice. Learn all about the latest AI tools and models, breakthrough applications, critical legal developments, and real-world use cases that are reshaping how law is practice...

09/15/2026

There's a myth that using AI in a law practice is cutting a corner. NACDL just put out a white paper that flips that on its head.

"Parity in Practice: The Defender's Duty to Ethically Use AI" makes the case that defense lawyers don't just get to use these tools — we have an ethical obligation to. Prosecutors' offices are already adopting enterprise AI to manage evidence, streamline discovery, and review cases at scale. If the defense bar sits it out, the people who pay for that gap are our clients.

A few things the paper gets right which I've been saying for months:

• The benefits are real but conditional — they depend entirely on which tools you pick, how you set them up, and how closely you check the output. There is no "set it and forget it."
• Solo practitioners and small firms face the steepest climb on cost and training — which is exactly the group that stands to gain the most from doing it right.

The core message: AI should sharpen zealous advocacy, not replace the judgment behind it. Used carefully, it helps us carry heavier caseloads and still give every client competent representation. Used carelessly, it does the opposite.

Worth a read for anyone in criminal defense. It's free at NACDL.org/ParityInPractice.

08/06/2026

A note we're proud to share: Travis is presenting a free continuing legal education session next week for the Ramsey County Bar Association and the Ramsey County Law Library.

The topic is "A New Era of Legal Practice: AI and the Changing Legal Landscape" — a practical, grounded look at how artificial intelligence is changing the way law actually gets practiced, and what the rules of professional conduct now require of attorneys who use it.

Wed, Aug 12 · 12:00–1:00 PM CT · live on Zoom · 1.0 standard CLE credit · free.

Open to all Minnesota attorneys. Register through the events page at mnbars.org.

08/02/2026

Getting arrested doesn't come with instructions. Here's the short version: be polite, say you want a lawyer, and then stop talking. That's the whole move. If it's already happened — to you or someone you love — call before you talk to anyone else. Consultations are free and confidential. 651.315.3097 | keildefense.com

06/13/2026

Two domestic assault cases dismissed on the eve of trial.

In one case, my client was facing the possibility of prison. In another, my client’s career and future were on the line.

Domestic assault allegations carry enormous consequences long before a jury ever hears the evidence. Jobs, families, housing, reputations, and freedom can all be at risk.

These cases required the kind of defense work that often happens in the details: reviewing reports line by line, challenging assumptions, testing the State’s evidence, and finding the inconsistencies that matter.

In one case, a critical documentation issue raised serious concerns about whether the alleged victim actually understood what police had her sign. In another, the evidence simply did not hold up when placed under pressure.

Tough advocacy still matters. Preparation still matters. And using AI as a strategic second chair helped us dig deeper, faster, and more precisely — finding small inconsistencies that helped expose major weaknesses in the prosecution’s cases.

Both clients walked away without domestic assault convictions.

Criminal defense has changed. Most lawyers have not.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

05/30/2026

A new article quotes legal experts saying what I've believed for a while: the day is coming when failing to use AI tools in a client's case could be a breach of the standard of care.

The whole profession had the same chance to start learning this. Most didn't. They waited for permission, for a rule, for someone else to go first.

The handful who started early now have a real advantage — and it's the kind that gets harder to catch up to every month.
If you've been on the fence, this is your sign. Begin now. The window's still open, but it's narrowing.

As reports of hallucinated case citations and other misadventures have some lawyers pumping the brakes on embracing generative artificial intelligence tools, experts say the day is coming when failure to use available AI technology in representing a client may be deemed a breach of the standard of c...

05/27/2026

I've been saying this for a while: AI is coming to the courtroom whether the bar is ready or not. California courts are already piloting it for case summaries, legal research, and ruling assistance.

And it's not just the bench. The tools exist right now to transcribe hearings in real time, surface case law on the fly at counsel table, summarize thousands of pages of discovery in minutes, and put meaningful legal help in the hands of people who could never afford a lawyer. That's not science fiction. That's this year.

The old way of practicing law is dying. The attorneys (and judges) who refuse to understand the new way are going to die with it.

Love it or hate it, AI is here. MRPC 1.1, Comment 8 — mirroring the ABA Model Rules — requires lawyers to keep abreast of "the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology." ABA Formal Opinion 512 (July 2024) made it explicit: generative AI IS relevant technology. Keeping up is not optional.

I'd argue refusing to become fluent in AI is no longer just a competitive disadvantage. It's edging into malpractice territory.

That's exactly why I'm presenting a CLE this August in Hennepin and Ramsey counties — The First Pitch Hasn't Been Thrown: A Lawyer's Field Guide to AI. We'll cover what's already in the courtroom, what's coming next, the ethics rules you need to know, and the practical workflows changing how cases get built. Details coming soon.

A new CalMatters report says courts in Los Angeles and Riverside County are testing artificial intelligence tools to help summarize cases, draft legal research, and potentially assist in rulings. Supporters say the technology could help reduce major court backlogs, while critics warn it may introduc...

05/18/2026

Successful result after a contested restitution hearing.

The State was seeking restitution from my client, but after challenging the request, the Court reduced the amount by approximately $3,000.

Restitution can have a real financial impact on a person’s life, and these hearings matter. Even after the criminal case itself appears resolved, it is important to carefully review what is being requested, whether the amount is supported, and whether the law allows it.

I also have to give credit to my Second Chair — AI — which took my ideas, helped execute the strategy, and assisted in identifying holes, inconsistencies, and weaknesses in the restitution request.

Technology does not replace advocacy, preparation, or courtroom judgment. But when used correctly, it can help sharpen the defense and make sure nothing gets overlooked.

Proud to have helped protect my client from an unsupported financial obligation.

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

05/10/2026

🚨 URGENT MN CONSUMER ALERT: NEW TARGETED BAIL SCAM 🚨

​A devastating and highly sophisticated version of the "bail scam" is currently targeting families across Minnesota. Unlike the typical random "relative-in-distress" call, this scheme is targeted and leverages real events.

​How it works:

​Scammers utilize publicly available arrest data (like public jail rosters) to identify families. They already know a real loved one has been arrested.

​The caller poses as a legitimate figure—a court clerk, a public defender, or a specific representative from a known bail bonds company.

​They contact the family with precise, real-life details of the arrest to create false legitimacy and belief.

​They immediately demand payment (often via specific methods like the stack of gift cards shown in the graphic) to secure the loved one's release, using extreme urgency and high pressure.

​RED FLAGS — Never trust a call that demands:

​Immediate Pressure: Money is needed right now to "secure release" or to "prevent more charges."

​Requests for Specific, Untraceable Payment: They ask you to pay via gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or to meet in a non-official location with cash. NO legitimate court, jail, or official agency will ever ask for payment this way.

​Isolation and Secrecy: They will explicitly tell you not to speak with other family members or contact the jail/police directly to "keep things moving" or to "avoid extra trouble." This is a tactic to isolate you.

​PROTECT YOURSELF & YOUR FAMILY:

👉 HANG UP.

👉 FIND OFFICIAL CONTACT INFO YOURSELF. Do not use any numbers provided by the caller. Use a number from an official government website (.gov) to find the jail or court.

👉 CALL THE JAIL OR COURT DIRECTLY using the official number to verify any arrest, bail status, and the identity of any individual claiming to represent them.

👉 VERIFY THE INDIVIDUAL. If they claim to be a public defender or specific official, call their known office number (found via an official search) to confirm their identity.

​Share this post to save a loved one from being a victim of this cruel and targeted scheme. Awareness of this specific tactic is critical for defense.