Using AI for Legal Research? Read This First

If you've typed a legal question into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, you're not alone. AI tools have become a common first stop for people trying to understand a legal problem. AI can be good at explaining confusing legal terms and may be able to help you organize your questions before you talk to a lawyer.

But a new guide offers an important reminder: AI doesn't actually know the law. It predicts answers based on patterns in its training data. Sometimes, those answers are simply wrong. AI can invent fake case names, statutes, and quotes that look real but don't exist. Practicing attorneys have been sanctioned for using fake cases an AI made up.

Because AI conversations may not be confidential the way conversations with your attorney are, you may want to watch what you share with AI. In a lawsuit, more opponents are asking for AI conversations which you may have to turn over.

While AI may be a helpful starting point for understanding your situation, it is not a substitute for legal advice. If your question moves from "what does the law say?" to "what should I do?", that's the time to talk to a lawyer.

You can get the free guide from the American Association of Law Libraries here: