The American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is proud to announce Julia Feder as the 2025 recipient of the Robert D. Reif Fellowship, sponsored by the law firm of Epstein Becker Green. A 2L at AUWCL, Feder’s winning essay, “Between a Bot and a Hard Place: Confidentiality and the AI Legal Landscape,” stood out for its thorough exploration of the ethical challenges posed by the rise of artificial intelligence in legal practice—particularly the implications for client confidentiality under Rule 1.6 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

Now in its twelfth year, the Reif Fellowship honors the legacy of Robert D. Reif, a longtime partner at Epstein Becker Green known for his deep commitment to professional ethics and public service. The fellowship supports AUWCL students in conducting rigorous research on pressing ethical issues within the legal profession. Feder’s essay exemplifies that commitment by tackling one of the most urgent challenges facing lawyers today: how to responsibly incorporate AI tools while upholding the core values of client trust and professional integrity.

In her essay, Feder examines how attorneys may inadvertently breach ethical duties by inputting confidential client information into AI systems that lack appropriate safeguards. She argues that such practices—if not managed with robust security protocols and a thorough understanding of the technology—can expose sensitive client data and violate long-standing ethical obligations. By combining legal analysis, current examples, and policy recommendations, Feder provides a roadmap for law firms and policymakers alike to navigate the evolving digital terrain without compromising the profession’s ethical foundations.

The Reif Fellowship selection committee, composed of WCL faculty and Epstein Becker Green attorneys, also named three finalists whose essays received high commendation: 3L Victoria Paul, and 2Ls Anna-Maria Nuryasin and Jordan Stevenson. Each finalist brought thoughtful insight to the complex intersection of law, ethics, and modern challenges.

“We were all very impressed with each of the essays submitted, and particularly those of our finalists including winner Julia Feder. Julia’s essay on Legal Ethics and Artificial Intelligence is both provocative and timely,” said Professor Bill Snape who serves on the Selection Committee and coordinates the competition along with WCL’s outstanding ethics professors. “We are so grateful to the EBG law firm and the Reif Family for this amazing opportunity for our students.” 

The law school congratulates Julia Feder on this well-deserved recognition. Her work serves as both a caution and a call to action—reminding us that even as technology transforms the legal field, the profession’s bedrock principles must remain firm.

Read Julia’s essay and learn more about the Reif Fellowship here.