Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research:
A Guide for Non-Lawyers
This guide is intended to help you use AI in your legal research effectively and responsibly.
Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research A Guide for Non-Lawyers
GETTING STARTED
Understand how AI works. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a general term for new technology that mimics how humans think and write. These systems work by analyzing large amounts of data in search of patterns and relationships. The AI learns these relationships and uses them to predict information for future requests. This process is known as training. Different types of AI work in different ways.
For example, generative AI is one kind of AI that creates brand new output. It may help you produce written letters, reports, or even songs and images. This is commonly what people think of when using the term AI. It includes Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude. This kind of AI is useful in writing emails, brainstorming ideas, or summarizing information.
Extractive AI is another type of AI that is useful for retrieving information from a specified set of data. It will interpret a user’s question and return the information that its calculations have determined to be the best answers to the question. Unlike generative AI, it does not transform the information into a new format, like a letter or chart. It simply returns it to the user.This kind of AI can be very helpful in doing research.
It’s important to understand that AI does not actually “think” about your question. It can’t consider your question and provide a specific answer like a human would. Instead, it returns language, also known as a response, that is likely to be relevant based on patterns it finds within its store of data.
State your legal question clearly and specifically. Before turning to AI, take time to consider your goal carefully. Can you explain what you are trying to do in simple, yet descriptive terms? The clearer instructions that you can provide to the AI, the better results you are likely to receive. This is called prompting, which will be discussed in more detail later.
Determine whether AI is appropriate for your research need. AI can be a great tool for helping you gather information about the law and what it says. It is not well-suited for making important legal decisions or understanding how the law applies to your situation. If your question goes beyond “what does the law say” and into “what does the law mean for me?,” AI should not be the only tool you use.
Understand AI limitations. LLMs like Claude and ChatGPT contain huge amounts of data which have not been verified for accuracy. The information they’ve been “trained” on may be incorrect, out of date, or not relevant to your situation. It is important to know AI’s common flaws so that you can look for them and double-check its research.
Hallucinations. AI will often provide information that looks valid but
Understand what AI can and cannot do in legal research
AI can:
Summarize long, complicated documents in straightforward language to help you understand them. Explain legal concepts in simple terms, or offer examples or analogies. Perform powerful searches in legal databases. Help you write legal documents like motions or affidavits. Come up with a “to do” list to accomplish a legal procedure.
AI cannot:
Take into account all the specific circumstances of your legal situation. Understand the consequences of a legal option.
Suggest the best course of action for you.
is factually incorrect. As AI is a pattern-finding technology, if it can't find data in its dataset that completes a pattern, it will try to fill in the gap. To do so, it may create a citation to a court case or a statute number that looks real but is not. These hallucinations are very convincing! Even professional lawyers have made the mistake of citing AI hallucinations.
Knowledge cutoffs Because common AI models work from banks of data, there are times that new legal information hasn’t been added yet Any data that AI hasn’t been trained on will be outside of its research capability AI will not know about an important new court case or if a law has recently changed until that information is added to its bank of data For this reason, you may receive out-of-date or incorrect information
The need for verification Because AI only recognizes patterns and does not truly understand the information it gives you, it might give you information that is correct in a different situation but not helpful for yours For example, if asked about the law surrounding a tenant’s security deposit, it may provide information about a city or state other than the one you live in It is very important to confirm that any information about the law that you receive from AI is accurate, relevant, and up-to-date
Recognize when you still need a human lawyer While AI is excellent at summarizing existing information, every legal situation is unique As pattern-predicting technology, AI can’t take the complexities of your situation into account Human lawyers are experts at looking at the entire legal picture Only a lawyer can give advice based on all the complex factors involved.
WHERE TO GO
Free AI tools available for legal research. There are many different free AI tools available that require nothing more than an email address to sign up. Some popular options that people use for legal information are ChatGPT (by OpenAI), Claude (by Anthropic), Gemini (by Google), and Copilot (by Microsoft). It’s important to test all of them to see which responses hold up best You can even give them the same question and then compare their responses Some free tools offer connections to legal tools like CourtListener and Courtroom5 These tools may help doublecheck the outputs from the AI
Remember that the companies that develop these tools are also frequently releasing new versions of AI programs Some may be developed specifically for legal issues However, AI tools may not perform the same after a new version is released Also, the companies that offer some of the free AI tools have indicated they may start including advertisements in their AI tools at some point These ads could potentially add bias to the AI output
AI features in legal databases All major paid legal research platforms offer AI tools as well These tools are often integrated directly into the database search functions Several of the major companies, such as Westlaw and LexisNexis, offer free trial periods, which may include some AI tools Like the free AI tools, the legal research databases that offer AI tools are also frequently updating and releasing new versions that may expand the AI functions available.
Court-provided AI resources and chatbots. Some courts are beginning to offer AI tools, especially chatbots. Chatbots are more limited AI tools that are designed solely to respond to and answer questions about the court services or provide limited legal information. Some courts may also have AI tools to help you draft authoritative legal forms. Check with your local court to see what options are available.
Legal aid organizations offering AI-assisted services. Legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost legal services to low-income people Some have also started to develop AI tools to provide quick access to reliable legal information These are often chatbots but may also include tools to help you develop trustworthy legal forms
Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research A Guide
for Non-Lawyers
State-specific AI legal resources. There may be other AI tools available from local nonprofit companies or government agencies depending on where you live. Contact your local law library, local legal aid, or pro bono office to help you find out what other tools are available to you.
What to know about terms of service and data privacy. When you sign up to use any AI tool, whether free or paid, you are agreeing to their Terms of Service. This creates a contract between you and the company offering the AI tool. These Terms of Service may include clauses that allow the company to use any data you input into the AI tool. This means that it could be used to help “train” the AI tool and potentially be released to another user. This is especially true for free AI tools. Even if your data is not released to another AI user, it still may not be fully private. Some courts have found that this data can be used as evidence by opposing parties in litigation. Avoid entering sensitive information unless you fully understand the company’s privacy protections.
WHAT AI CAN HELP YOU WITH
Examples of sensitive information that should not be entered into AI:
Social Security numbers bank account information medical records passwords confidential business information private details about ongoing legal disputes
Explaining legal concepts in plain language. AI is an excellent tool for rephrasing and explaining complicated language. If you are not sure what legal jargon means, you can ask AI to put it into simpler wording. AI can even translate into a language other than English!
Summarizing statutes, cases, and regulations. The writing in legal documents can be very long, complex, and difficult to read. AI can provide simplified versions of statutes or rules. It can point out the key parts of a court case and tell you why they are important to understand.
Identifying relevant legal issues and search terms. Using its ability to identify patterns, AI can point out possible points of research based on your prompt. It can help you determine what the key legal issues are and why they’re important to understand fully. AI can help you brainstorm effective and powerful search terms to find more information on these topics.
Drafting initial research questions and outlines. One popular use of AI is creating a “game plan” for a project. It can help you organize your thoughts and questions on a topic into actionable steps. It is also great for brainstorming. It may be able to help you think of aspects of your problem that you had not yet thought to research.
Understanding court procedures and deadlines. AI is very helpful in creating “to do” lists. AI can help you create a list of tasks to accomplish based on complicated court procedures or rules. In addition, court deadlines are often phrased in terms relative to another event, which makes them hard to understand. Providing AI with a court’s deadlines for specific actions along with the dates on which specific events have occurred can help you find more straightforward due dates. Always be sure to double-check the deadlines yourself!
Reviewing and explaining documents. AI’s ability to summarize effectively makes it ideal for helping you go over and understand documents Most AI tools allow you to upload documents for it to analyze The AI may be able to help proofread forms or letters you have written It can also provide explanations or summaries of documents you ’ ve received from someone else For example, AI might be able to help you decide what your next step is based on a letter you received from the court Please be careful about sensitive information before uploading any documents!
Generating document templates and forms (with caution). Because AI is very good at following rules and instructions, it can help you create documents according to instructions provided by a court or other third party. It may be able to provide a basic form for a document based on other examples that it has been trained on. It is very important to have anything AI-generated reviewed by a human before submitting it to a court
Finding analogies to help understand complex legal principles If you ’ re having trouble wrapping your head around a legal topic, AI may be able to provide some examples that make it clearer. AI’s ability to compare concepts and draw connections makes it ideal for creating scenarios and illustrations to explain an idea.
HOW TO PROMPT AI EFFECTIVELY
In order to receive a useful answer, you need to ask a clear, specific question. The question you ask a generative AI tool is called a prompt. Crafting an effective prompt takes a little practice, but doing so will help you get more accurate and relevant results and reduce the chance of receiving wrong or made-up information called hallucinations. Not sure where to start? Try asking the AI: "What information do you need from me to answer this question?" This can help you figure out what details to include before you begin.
Identify your jurisdiction. Jurisdiction is the specific location whose laws apply to your situation If your problem involves your home or apartment, the state where you live is your jurisdiction If your problem involves an accident that happened in another state, that state is the jurisdiction Each state has its own laws, so you must retrieve information from the one that applies to your situation
Describe your role. Explain your relationship to the legal situation Are you the landlord or the tenant? The driver or a passenger? The person who was hurt, or a relative? Your role affects what rights and options may be available to you
Provide context The more relevant facts you can include, the better your results will be Did you receive an eviction notice? What were the weather conditions when the accident happened? Do you have paperwork from the court? If you have already received a document you do not understand, such as a court summons, an eviction notice, or a letter from a government agency, you can describe or paste in the text of that document and ask the AI to explain it in plain language.
Include relevant dates. Legal matters are often time-sensitive. Include the date an event occurred, when you received a notice, and any deadlines you are aware of.Timing can determine what options are still available to you.
Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research A Guide for
Non-Lawyers
Specify what you want the AI to produce. Tell the AI what kind of output you are looking for. Do you want to know what your next steps are? Do you want help drafting a letter or completing a court form? If you are drafting a letter, consider whether the tone should be formal or conversational, and whether it is going to a business or an individual.
Ask follow-up questions. Your first results will not always be exactly what you are looking for, and that is normal. Prompting is an iterative process, which means it might take several rounds of instruction to the AI to get what you need. You can refine your prompts based on what you receive, ask for clarification of anything you do not understand, and keep narrowing until you get a useful answer. Some AI tools will identify the sources used to find an answer; others will not. If knowing the source matters to you, ask for it.
This question is too broad to receive any meaningful results.
It is missing information that is very important to know when considering this question, such as: Where you you live?
Do you have a lease?
Why is your landlord trying to kick you out?
How did the landlord tell you to move out?
Example of a poorly drafted prompt
Example of an effective prompt
[Example response from ChatGPT]: In Massachusetts, a “notice to quit for nonpayment of rent” is a formal notice from your landlord saying you owe rent and must either pay the amount due or move out by a certain deadline
It is not an immediate eviction order. In many Massachusetts cases, tenants can stop the eviction process by paying the overdue rent within the legal cure period, especially for the first nonpayment notice in a 12-month period. If you do nothing, the landlord may later file an eviction case in court.
Example follow-up question for clarification
You can add a few more facts to refine your results further: Whether you notified the landlord about the heat problem in writing. Whether the landlord fixed the heat problem Whether you set aside the unpaid rent
p y q y y p y personal information.
Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research A Guide for Non-Lawyers
BEFORE YOU RELY ON AI RESULTS
Always verify AI-generated citations. AI may invent or make up cases, statutes, citations, and quotes because AI wants to give you an answer. AI tools can create citations that look real but do not exist, a problem sometimes called hallucination. Before relying on any case name, quote, or citation, you should check the information in an official legal database (see list of free databases on page 3 of this guide or visit your local law library to double check your citations) or court’s websites. Never assume that a realistic sounding citation or quoted material is valid.
Cross-check legal rules in official sources. AI can summarize court and other legal rules incorrectly or oversimplify them. You should confirm the rule language directly in state statutes, federal codes, or official court rules. This prevents you from relying on summaries that may be inaccurate or outdated.
Confirm that cases have not been overturned or distinguished. Even when AI gives a real case, it may not know its current status. You should use a citator (like KeyCite, Shepard’s, a state court’s opinion history tool, FindLaw, or a local law library) to ensure the case is still good law. This step helps avoid citing decisions that are no longer safe to rely on.
Confirm that case holdings are correct. AI may misstate what the court actually decided or mix up facts between cases. Reading the case yourself ensures AI did not misinterpret the holding or invent reasoning for the decision. You should rely on the court’s actual language, not AI’s summary.
Check that statutes are current and not amended or repealed. Statutes can change frequently and AI may not reflect the most recent version. You should check the official state code, municipal code, federal statutes, codes, and regulations, to confirm the text is still current. This helps avoid citing laws that may have been altered, repealed, or removed.
Verify procedural requirements with court websites or clerks. Deadlines, filing formats, fees, and required forms vary by jurisdiction. Court websites and clerk’s offices provide the most reliable, up-to-date procedural information. You should always rely on those sources rather than AIgenerated instructions.
Understand the difference between AI explanation and legal advice. AI can offer general explanations about legal concepts but cannot provide personalized legal advice. You should understand that explanations from AI do not consider your
For the best legal research results, remember these steps when relying on AI results:
1Verifyacase,statute,rule,orregulationfrom anofficialsource,notjustfromAI.
2Useacitator,acourt’sopinionsearchtool,or alocallawlibrary,tomakesurethecases youarecitingarerealandstillgoodlaw.
3Verifycurrentstatutesorrulesversionson officialwebsites.
4.Compare the official text of statutes, opinions,andquotes,withAI’sdescriptions tobesureyourfilingsareaccurateandyou arenotmisrepresentingortellingthecourt inaccurateinformation.
specific facts, jurisdictional differences, or procedural nuances.Whenever possible, always cross-check with human legal assistance resources. Check your court’s websites for legal help resources and contacts for the law library.
Check supplements and updates in traditional sources. Print or digital secondary sources (legal books that explain the law) may have supplements or pocket parts that update legal content You should check these updates to ensure your research reflects the most current state of the law Relying on outdated secondary materials can lead to errors even if the AI summarized them accurately
CRITICAL WARNINGS AND LIMITATIONS
Even if you have mastered the art of prompting, you still need to use care when relying on information generated by AI.The warnings below are not reasons to avoid AI altogether, but they are important to understand before you begin.
AI cannot provide legal advice or represent you in court. AI tools can help you understand your situation and identify questions to ask, but they cannot tell you which legal option is the best choice for your specific situation, represent you in a courtroom, or file documents on your behalf
AI can generate convincing but incorrect information. One of the most serious risks of using AI for legal research is that it may produce answers that sound confident and convincing but are simply wrong Because these “hallucination” errors look identical to real legal information, they are easy to miss Attorneys who should know better have filed court documents containing hallucinated citations and faced consequences as a result Filing a court document that contains nonexistent cases can result in sanctions, which may take the form of a fine or dismissal of your case You are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of any information you present to the court
Always verify any case name, statute, or legal rule that AI provides before relying on it If you cannot verify the information on your own, a law librarian or legal aid organization can help.
AI aims to please. AI tools are built to give helpful, agreeable responses and will not challenge your assumptions. This means that if you ask a leading question or phrase your prompt in a way that assumes a particular answer, the AI is likely to confirm what you already believe rather than give you an accurate picture of the law. For example, if you ask, "My landlord has no right to evict me, correct?" you are more likely to receive an answer that agrees with you than one that identifies the weaknesses in your position Ask open, neutral questions and treat any answer that tells you exactly what you hoped to hear with extra caution
AI may not reflect current law. AI tools are trained on information available up to a certain date and may not reflect recent changes in the law For example, a law that was amended last year may not appear in an AI tool's answer Always check whether the law or rule you are researching has been updated recently
Some courts require you to disclose your use of AI Court rules vary, and some courts require you to identify any AI tools used in preparing documents filed with the court Check the rules of the court where your case is pending before submitting any document that was drafted or researched with AI assistance.
Protect your personal information. Unlike communications with an attorney, conversations with AI tools are not confidential. Do not include your Social Security number, financial account numbers, full date of birth, or other sensitive identifying details in a prompt. Use caution when uploading any documents you have received from a court or an opposing party, as this may allow others to view sensitive information, depending on the tool you are using
Make sure you have verified and truly understand any suggestion before using it
Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research A Guide for Non-Lawyers
WHEN TO STOP USING AI AND SEEK HUMAN HELP
Complex legal matters requiring professional judgment. If your issue involves complicated legal matters, multiple areas of law, or consequences that need legal help or interpretation, AI may oversimplify or misunderstand what truly matters and put you or your case at risk. Complex situations often require human judgment that AI cannot provide. A lawyer, self-help center, or law librarian can help point you in the right direction.
High-stakes situations (criminal charges, significant money, custody, etc.). When your freedom, your children, your housing, or large amounts of money are at risk, relying solely on AI-generated materials is not safe. These cases involve long-term consequences that require skilled guidance. Seeking qualified legal help can ensure your rights and options are fully understood. Remember: When emotions are high, you need neutral guidance. Stress, fear, or urgency can make it hard to understand AI answers. A human professional can help you think more clearly about your options.
When AI provides inconsistent or confusing answers. If AI gives conflicting information, vague explanations, or changes its answers when you ask again, that’s a sign something may be incorrect or misunderstood. Confusion (which is normal!) is also a red flag that human assistance is needed. A knowledgeable person can help clarify the right direction.
When you need representation in court. AI cannot speak for you, file documents on your behalf, or address unexpected questions from a judge. If your case requires in-person representation, negotiation, or argument, only a human can fill that role. Look for a listing of legal aid organizations or pro bono programs that may be available in your area.
When deadlines are approaching and you're uncertain. If you’re facing a filing deadline and don’t feel confident about the required forms, rules, or next steps, AI explanations may not be detailed or reliable enough. Missing deadlines can harm your case. A quick conversation with a law librarian, self-help center, member of the clerk’s office, or legal professional can help avoid preventable errors.
When AI research reveals your situation is more complex than anticipated. Sometimes AI summaries can alert you to issues you didn’t know existed. If your matter turns out to involve multiple claims, specialized rules, or complicated timelines, it’s wise to pause. Seek out help from a qualified advocate to help you understand which issues matter most and what to do next.
When you can’t verify your cases or statutes. If you cannot confirm that a case is real, still good law, or correctly summarized, you should not rely on that information in a filing. Not being able to check that case is still good law, or real, signals that the AI output may be unreliable. Human guidance can help you locate on point and trustworthy sources.
BEST PRACTICES FOR RESPONSIBLE USE
Document your research process and sources. Keep notes about which AI tools you use and any shortcomings you notice As you are verifying the AI outputs, also keep track of what websites or books you are using to verify, such as official government or legal aid websites Remember that both AI tools and laws can change frequently Always confirm that legal information is current for your jurisdiction
Save AI conversations and outputs for your records. AI tools may seem like they can remember past conversations, but AI tools may also lose context, misunderstand earlier information, or respond inconsistently during long conversations. If a new model is released, it may retain no memory at all. Copy, download, and save all important information from the AI tool to a safe, secured location, such as a password-protected cloud account or device. You may even want to print some conversations your local public library may offer free or cheap printing services.
Use AI as a starting point, not an endpoint. AI tools are powerful, but they should be only one part of your research process.You should also consult libraries and human professionals for legal information and possibly legal advice.
Combine AI with traditional research methods. AI tools help you better understand your legal situation, including helping you identify appropriate legal terminology and laws You can use this knowledge to help you in traditional legal research, using books or legal research databases Knowing, for example, what statute applies to your situation can help you find annotated versions of that statute, which will show you explainer articles and court cases that discuss the statute If you aren’t sure where to start with traditional legal research, check out How to Research a Legal Problem: A Guide for Non-Lawyers, also published by AALL’s Legal Information Services to the Public SIS
Be transparent about AI use when appropriate. If a court or opposing party asks about your AI usage, it is critical that you are honest and forthcoming with them Courts may impose penalties or reject filings if AI-generated material contains false information or if parties are not truthful about how AI was used.
Maintain critical thinking and skepticism AI is a powerful tool but it does not “think” For example, AI may help you identify the name of a legal procedure or statute, but you should still confirm the law by reading the official statute or court website yourself Use reliable sources from your local law library or seek professional review to make sure that the information the AI tool is providing is correct Always verify any case citation, statute, regulation, court rule, or quoted legal language using an official source or trusted legal database before relying on it. AI tools may also oversimplify complicated legal situations or fail to recognize exceptions and procedural requirements. Be cautious about relying on short or overly confident answers.
Understand that using AI does not make you a lawyer. Lawyers go to school for several years and must pass a licensing exam in order to prove mastery of multiple areas of law and legal procedure. Lawyers learn how to weigh and assess all aspects of cases and how to navigate court procedure. Using AI tools cannot replace professional legal training and judgment
Best Practices for Using AI in Legal Research A Guide for Non-Lawyers
This guide was prepared in 2026 by Nicole Belbin, Sara V. Pixon, Laura Moorer, and Amy Small for Legal Information Services to the Public (LISP), a Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL).
LISP provides support for programs and workshops on legal research for the non-law librarian; consults with public libraries on collection development and maintenance of their legal collections; and surveys and publishes information about collections of legal materials available in public libraries that might assist the public in locating the information it seeks. In addition, LISP encourages and supports AALL chapters in providing pro bono assistance in a variety of contexts. For more information on LISP and its activities, see https://www.aallnet.org/lispsis/
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