By Cary Shepherd on 2026-05-12
AI chatbots have quietly become the first stop for legal questions. That is mostly good news: people who could never afford an hour of a lawyer's time can now get an explanation of a lease clause, a court notice, or a confusing letter in seconds.
But legal questions carry real stakes. In 2023, a federal court in New York sanctioned two lawyers who filed a brief citing court decisions that did not exist; the cases had been invented by a chatbot. If trained lawyers can be fooled, anyone can. These five rules help you get the benefits while avoiding the traps.
Rule 1: Treat Answers as a Starting Point
AI is excellent at explaining concepts and organizing information. It is not reliable as a final answer. Use it to understand your situation and prepare better questions, then verify anything you plan to act on.
Rule 2: Always Name Your Location
Law changes from state to state and city to city. A tenant's rights in Chicago differ from those in Dallas. Start every legal question with where you are: "I live in Chicago, Illinois."
Rule 3: Demand Sources, Then Check Them
Ask the chatbot to cite the specific statute, ordinance, or court rule it is relying on. Then look it up yourself on an official government or court website. If you cannot find it, do not rely on it.
Rule 4: Protect Your Privacy
Conversations with a consumer chatbot are generally not confidential and are not protected by attorney-client privilege. Leave out names, account numbers, and details you would not want others to read. Describe the situation in general terms.
Rule 5: Know When to Bring In a Lawyer
Some situations call for a professional:
- You have been served with court papers or a deadline is approaching.
- Significant money, your housing, your job, or your liberty is at stake.
- The other side has a lawyer.
- You need someone to represent you, not just explain things.
How We Use AI
At Shepherd Law, AI does what it does best: reading documents, organizing facts, and drafting. A licensed attorney reviews the work before anything is filed. Our Chicago parking ticket app is a good example: AI reads your ticket and helps write your contest, and an attorney checks it and files it for you.
The future of legal help is not AI instead of lawyers. It is AI that makes lawyers affordable for everyone.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different; for advice about yours, contact us.