Legal Disclaimer & Terms of Use

COMMUNICATIONS MADE VIA WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND/OR ANY THIRD PARTY PLATFORM MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED CONFIDENTIAL, LEGAL ADVICE, OR SUBJECT TO ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.  THEREFORE, IT IS ADVISABLE TO COORDINATE A CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION DIRECTLY WITH THE LAWYER.

Attorney Advertising: The content published on any online platform and social media associated with The Sterling Firm, APLC and/or Justin Sterling, Esq. is not to be considered legal advice, and it is not a substitute for seeking specific legal advice related to any user.  All content contained herein is for informational purposes only.  Nothing herein shall serve as a representation of results or guarantees. Pursuant to State Bar Rules, attorney Justin Sterling (California State Bar Number 290642) is responsible for any legal service advertisement. The content herein is merely informational and any communication and/or solicitation herein does not create a legal relationship nor should it be construed as legal advice.

NOTICE REGARDING ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP

To prospective clients:  Please note that using and/or visiting the website www.thesterlingfirm.com and/or exchanging emails and/or communications with The Sterling Firm on any online platform and/or social media platform does not mean you have retained The Sterling Firm to represent you.  You must have a fully executed Attorney-Client Agreement for representation to commence.

EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF USER THAT CONTENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

Nothing in the website TheSterlingFirm.com or any social media or online platform associated with The Sterling Firm and/or Justin Sterling, Esq. is to be considered legal advice.  All users agree and acknowledge that any content herein contained is for informational purposes only.

NOT REPRESENTATION OF GUARANTEES

Nothing in this website shall serve as a representation of results or guarantees.

DEPICTION NOTICE

Any image or portrayal consisting of numerous people shall not be interpreted to be a representation of the number of lawyers, attorneys, associates, or representatives of The Sterling Firm.  The Sterling Firm is a professional law corporation currently solely owned by Justin Sterling, Esq. and serves as a licensed lawyer employed by The Sterling Firm.  Actors and other portrayals may appear in content associated with The Sterling Firm, and the viewer acknowledges that these are not actual licensed lawyer(s).

FIRM ASSOCIATION & JURISDICTIONAL PRACTICE

At times and for certain matters, The Sterling Firm may engage in an association with another lawyer or law firm, motion in “pro hac vice” on certain matters, refer matters to other lawyers or law firms, and/or obtain proper jurisdictional license. Justin Sterling, Esq. is a licensed lawyer in good standing with the State Bar of California and is only licensed to practice law in the State of California.

PERMISSION TO USE INFO

By accessing the website TheSterlingFirm.com or by contacting The Sterling Firm through any online platform and/or social media platform, you agree and provide permission to The Sterling Firm to use your personal information, i.e. email, phone number, or any other personal contact information to message, contact, send information, or use in any way, including but not limited to marketing and advertising campaigns.

CALIFORNIA JURISDICTION AND GOVERNING LAW

The Sterling Firm services clients across the nation and across the globe.  The Sterling Firm utilizes remote capabilities to serve clients globally.  However, if any attorney-client relationship is ever formed between the parties, it is hereby acknowledged that sufficient consent will be expressed by existing and potential clients that all advise shall be considered to be according to the jurisdiction for which Justin Sterling, Esq. is licensed to practice law, i.e. the state of California.

CONSENT

By using this website and/or any online platform and social media platforms related to The Sterling Firm and Justin Sterling, Esq., you consent to The Sterling Firm’s applicable Privacy Policy.

NOTICE RE ABA Rule 5.5: Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multi-jurisdictional Practice of Law

Law Firms And Associations

(a) A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.

(b) A lawyer who is not admitted to practice in this jurisdiction shall not:

(1) except as authorized by these Rules or other law, establish an office or other systematic and continuous presence in this jurisdiction for the practice of law; or

(2) hold out to the public or otherwise represent that the lawyer is admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction.

(c) A lawyer admitted in another United States jurisdiction, and not disbarred or suspended from practice in any jurisdiction, may provide legal services on a temporary basis in this jurisdiction that:

(1) are undertaken in association with a lawyer who is admitted to practice in this jurisdiction and who actively participates in the matter;

(2) are in or reasonably related to a pending or potential proceeding before a tribunal in this or another jurisdiction, if the lawyer, or a person the lawyer is assisting, is authorized by law or order to appear in such proceeding or reasonably expects to be so authorized;

(3) are in or reasonably related to a pending or potential arbitration, mediation, or other alternative resolution proceeding in this or another jurisdiction, if the services arise out of or are reasonably related to the lawyer’s practice in a jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted to practice and are not services for which the forum requires pro hac vice admission; or

(4) are not within paragraphs (c) (2) or (c)(3) and arise out of or are reasonably related to the lawyer’s practice in a jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted to practice.

(d) A lawyer admitted in another United States jurisdiction or in a foreign jurisdiction, and not disbarred or suspended from practice in any jurisdiction or the equivalent thereof, or a person otherwise lawfully practicing as an in-house counsel under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, may provide legal services through an office or other systematic and continuous presence in this jurisdiction that:

(1) are provided to the lawyer’s employer or its organizational affiliates, are not services for which the forum requires pro hac vice admission; and when performed by a foreign lawyer and requires advice on the law of this or another U.S. jurisdiction or of the United States, such advice shall be based upon the advice of a lawyer who is duly licensed and authorized by the jurisdiction to provide such advice; or

(2) are services that the lawyer is authorized by federal or other law or rule to provide in this jurisdiction.

(e) For purposes of paragraph (d):

(1) the foreign lawyer must be a member in good standing of a recognized legal profession in a foreign jurisdiction, the members of which are admitted to practice as lawyers or counselors at law or the equivalent, and subject to effective regulation and discipline by a duly constituted professional body or a public authority; or,

(2) the person otherwise lawfully practicing as an in-house counsel under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction must be authorized to practice under this Rule by, in the exercise of its discretion, [the highest court of this jurisdiction].

You hereby consent and agree that all interactions with The Sterling Firm and Justin C. Sterling, Esq. shall be interpreted to be within the ABA Rule 5.5.  The Sterling Firm and Justin C. Sterling, Esq. hereby put you on notice that the only jurisdiction of its licensure is California.  It is acknowledged and consented to that The Sterling Firm and Justin C. Sterling, Esq. do not hold themselves out as practicing law in any other jurisdiction and is therefore within the Rules of Professional Conduct and all regulations concerning the practice of law.  It is also noticed that The Sterling Firm and Justin C. Sterling, Esq. operate a remote law practice and may conduct affairs while outside the state of California, but it is hereby acknowledged that The Sterling Firm and Justin C. Sterling, Esq. do not hold themselves out to being licensed by any other jurisdictions. The Sterling Firm and Justin C. Sterling, Esq. are only licensed to practice law in the state of California.

SMS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

General

When you opt-in to the service, we will send you a message to confirm your signup.

By opting into messages, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing and informational text messages from Lawyer. Automated messages may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system to the mobile telephone number you provided when signing up or any other number that you designate.

Message frequency varies, and additional mobile messages may be sent periodically based on your interaction with Lawyer. Lawyer reserves the right to alter the frequency of messages sent at any time to increase or decrease the total number of sent messages. Lawyer also reserves the right to change the short code or phone number or alphanumeric sender where messages are sent

Your usual message and data rates may apply. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your mobile provider. Your mobile provider is not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Your consent to receive marketing messages is not a condition of purchase.

Carriers

Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Cancellation

Messages will provide instructions to unsubscribe either by texting STOP or through an included link. After you unsubscribe, we will send you a message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed and no more messages will be sent. If you would like to receive messages from Lawyer again, just sign up as you did the first time and Lawyer will start sending messages to you again.

Info

For support regarding our services, email us at info@thesterlingfirm.com or, if supported, text “HELP” to +13104982750 at any time and we will respond with instructions on how to unsubscribe. If we include a link in messages we send you from Lawyer, you may also access instructions on how to unsubscribe and our company information by following that link.

Transfer of Number

You agree that before changing your mobile number or transferring your mobile number to another individual, you will either reply “STOP” from the original number or notify us of your old number at info@thesterlingfirm.com. The duty to inform us based on the above events is a condition of using this service to receive messages.

Privacy

If you have any questions about your data or our privacy practices, please visit our https://thesterlingfirm.com/privacy-policy/.

Messaging Terms Changes

We reserve the right to change or terminate our messaging program at any time. We also reserve the right to update these Messaging Terms at any time. Such changes will be effective immediately upon posting. If you do not agree to a change to these Messaging Terms, you should cancel your enrolment with our messaging program. Your continued enrollment following such changes shall constitute your acceptance of such changes.

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AI Use Policy

Organization: The Sterling Firm, A Professional Law Corporation (APLC)
Effective Date: September 23, 2025
Owners: Managing Attorney; Operations Manager / Firm Administrator
Review Cadence: As needed (upon tool changes, material legal/regulatory updates, or identified risks)

1) Purpose & Scope

This policy establishes how The Sterling Firm, APLC (the “Firm”) uses artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly, lawfully, and ethically across personal injury and business law matters. It applies to all Firm personnel (attorneys, staff, contractors, and vendors) and covers all AI-assisted activities, data, and systems the Firm controls or uses.

2) Our Mission & Values (Anchor)

  • Mission: Maximize client recovery and peace of mind through relentless advocacy and clear communication; protect Californians’ rights and help clients with proactive, practical legal counsel.
  • Brand Values: Integrity; Client-first service; Compassion; Accountability; Justice & Fairness.

These principles guide every AI decision: client interests and legal/ethical duties come first.

3) Definitions (Plain-English)

  • AI System: Software that generates or analyzes text, audio, images, or predictions (e.g., large language models, transcription/summarization, voice agents).
  • Approved Tool: Including but not limited to any AI technology listed in §6 and configured according to this policy.
  • Personal Data / PII: Including but not limited to information that identifies or relates to an identifiable person (e.g., name, contact, claims data). PHI refers to health information protected by law.
  • Confidential Information: Attorney–client privileged or work-product material, case strategy, settlement posture, or any non-public Firm/client data.

4) Transparency & Human Oversight

  • AI is an assistive technology; the Firm maintains human judgment and professional responsibility at all times.
  • All AI-generated drafts, insights, or summaries must be reviewed by a responsible attorney or designated reviewer before reliance, client delivery, court filing, or publication.
  • When AI touches client-facing interactions (e.g., intake voice agents, meeting summaries), the Firm provides notice and consent if applicable (see §10 and §12).
  • No decisions with legal or significant effects on a client are automated without attorney overview and participation.

5) Permitted Uses (Attorney-Supervised)

AI may be used with attorney and/or human review for:

  • Drafting: demand letters, emails, internal outlines, blog/social drafts.
  • Research support: first-pass issue spotting and case summaries (primary authority verification and cite-check when applicable).
  • Transcription & summarization: including but not limited to phone calls, Zoom meetings, depositions, and/or any other form of communication.
  • Document review, editing, & redlining: including but not limited to any form of documentation, contracts, medical records; extraction of facts and dates.
  • Intake & triage: screening FAQs, scheduling handoffs (attorney reviews any legal determinations).
  • eDiscovery assistance: categorization, search-term suggestions (final selections by attorney/PM).
  • Translation & plain-English explanations: client education materials with legal review.
  • Timekeeping & admin: draft time entries, task notes (finalization by responsible person).
  • Marketing ideation: outlines, SEO briefs (compliance review before publication).

6) Approved AI Tools & Configuration

Primary tools (subject to Firm provisioning and account controls) including but not limited to:

  • ChatGPT / GPT-class tools (OpenAI) — drafting & reasoning support (no client identifiers unless de-identified and permitted; use Firm-managed accounts; disable training/sharing features where available).
  • Microsoft Copilot (M365) — Office/Outlook summarization under Firm tenant with DLP and logging.
  • Google Gemini — research/brainstorming via enterprise/firm-approved accounts only.
  • Adobe Acrobat AI — document insights on PDFs; use only Firm-licensed version.
  • Transcription tools (e.g., Read.ai, Teams, Zoom) — restricted to Firm accounts with retention controls.
  • Read AI — meeting and content summaries via Firm-managed configuration.
  • Zoom AI — meeting summaries/transcripts; ensure pre-call consent banners are enabled.
  • Retell AI (voice agent) — intake/FAQ with explicit caller consent and scripted disclosures.

Baseline controls (apply to all tools):

  1. Access & Identity: SSO/MFA; role-based access control (RBAC); firm email only.
  2. Privacy Controls: disable data-for-training where possible; restrict external sharing; use US/EU data residency default when available.
  3. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): block transmission of unredacted PII/PHI unless tool is approved for such data and contractually safeguarded (see §11).
  4. Logging: retain usage logs for audits; store outputs in the Firm DMS, not vendor silos, when feasible.
  5. Updates: security patches and model setting reviews conducted by Operations/IT.

7) Prohibited Uses (Hard Stops)

When applicable, AI will not be used for:

  • Final legal advice or judgment calls without attorney review.
  • Drafting, filing, or signing court documents without attorney and/or human review and approval.
  • Processing unredacted PHI/PII or confidential client data in non-approved tools or personal accounts.
  • Negotiation communications sent without attorney approval and/or participation.
  • Deepfakes, impersonation, deceptive or misleading content.
  • Any use that could violate State bar rules, privacy laws, court orders, or client agreements.

8) Accuracy, Safety & Quality Controls

  • Cite-Check: All legal research assisted by AI will be validated with primary sources (cases, statutes, rules) when possible. No “phantom” citations.
  • Hallucination Guardrails: Treat AI output as unverified until corroborated.
  • Records: Extracted facts will be cross-checked against source documents when possible.

9) Confidentiality & Privilege

  • Attorney–client privilege and work-product doctrine extend to AI-assisted workflows and handled within approved, contractually protected environments and under attorney direction and/or participation.
  • Redact or de-identify where practicable.

10) Notice, Consent, & Recording (California)

  • California is a two‑party consent state. Before recording or transcribing calls or meetings, notice is hereby provided and by continuing with use and services provided by The Sterling Firm, APLC the participant user’s and/or client’s affirmative consent is also hereby provided.
  • For any voice agents AI, the agent may disclose that it is an AI system when practicable and reasonably inform that calls may be recorded/transcribed when practicable. Regardless, by continuing with use and services provided by The Sterling Firm, APLC the participant user’s and/or client’s affirmative consent is hereby provided.

11) Privacy, Security, & Data Governance

Regulatory Alignment:

  • U.S.: California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA); FTC Act unfair/deceptive practices; White House AI Bill of Rights principles (data privacy, notice, alternative options).
  • Global: EU GDPR (lawful basis, data minimization, DPIAs where applicable), EU AI Act risk-based approach (our use is low to limited risk; we avoid high-risk/biometric/automated decisioning), and ISO/IEC 42001 alignment for AI management practices.

Controls:

  1. Data Minimization: Share only what is necessary; prefer de-identified data.
  2. Retention: Store AI inputs/outputs in the Firm’s approved repositories; apply normal matter-based retention and legal hold processes.
  3. Vendor Management: Execute DPAs/BAAs where applicable; assess sub‑processors; verify model/provider privacy posture and data residency; require opt‑out from training on Firm data where available.
  4. Security: Encryption in transit/at rest; MFA; endpoint protection; monitored audit logs; least-privilege access.
  5. Incident Response: Report suspected data exposure to Managing Attorney and Operations immediately; follow Firm breach response plan (notification, containment, post‑mortem).
  6. Sensitive Categories: Do not process biometrics, SSNs, financial account numbers, or medical claim numbers in AI tools unless explicitly approved and contractually protected.

12) Client Disclosure & Marketing

  • AI may materially contribute to any client deliverable, and it is hereby disclosed that AI-assisted drafting may be used and that a human performed or participated in the final review.
  • Marketing content generated with AI will be reviewed for accuracy, disclaimers, and bar advertising rules and Notice is hereby provided (e.g., no unjustified expectations of outcomes; required statements for testimonials/awards; applicable jurisdictional notices, specifically that The Sterling Firm, APLC is registered in California only and Justin Sterling, Esq. is only licensed to practice in the State of California).

13) Training & Enablement

  • The Firm provides periodic training on: AI capabilities/limits, confidentiality, privacy, consent, citation hygiene, and tool configurations.
  • New hires will be trained in the AI policy.

14) Roles & Accountability

  • Policy Owners: Managing Attorney; Operations Manager / Firm Administrator.
  • Approvals: New AI tools or materially new use cases will be approved by human.
  • Audits: Periodic spot checks of prompts, outputs, and logs; corrective actions implemented.
  • Violations: May result in access restrictions, disciplinary action, or termination; reportable incidents handled per §11.

15) Enforcement & Reporting

  • Report any suspected misuse, data leakage, erroneous citations, or client concerns to the Managing Attorney immediately.
  • The Firm will investigate, remediate, notify affected parties as required by law/contract, and update safeguards.

16) Change Management

  • The Firm will update this policy as needed to reflect changes to laws, bar guidance, client requirements, or tool capabilities.

18) Quick Reference (One-Page Summary)

Use AI for: drafts, summaries, research support, intake triage, admin/marketing — always with human review.
Do NOT use AI for: final legal advice, unreviewed court filings, unapproved PHI/PII processing, negotiations without approval, privileged strategy, or deepfakes.
Privacy & Consent: by condinuing with use and/or services, participant user and/or client consent is hereby provided.

Questions about this policy or any other issue(s)? Please contact the Managing Attorney and/or Operations Manager / Firm Administrator.

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