Today, the question increasingly arises: can legal consultation be replaced by using AI, such as ChatGPT? Technology has indeed made legal information more accessible. Answers can be obtained quickly, for free, and at any time. However, in the legal field, what truly matters is not speed and convenience, but accuracy and accountability.
We've tested several AI models for their utility and can share the following observations.
The modern dilemma: lawyer or AI — who will provide sound legal advice?
The modern dilemma: lawyer or AI — who will provide sound legal advice?
Why we believe that AI will not replace a professional lawyer
Legal issues almost always involve nuances. To get an accurate answer from AI, one must skillfully formulate the query and describe all legally significant circumstances. In practice, it is the contract details, party correspondence, and specific judicial precedents that shape the final outcome.
Arguments against replacing a lawyer with ChatGPT
1. Difficulty in formulating queries:
- to get a meaningful legal answer from ChatGPT, you need to formulate the query (prompt) very precisely, and 99% of people will not be able to skillfully craft such a query to resolve a complex legal issue;
- you need to convey the essence of a multi-hour dialogue (consultation) with a lawyer in text format;
- you need to scan and upload documents (sometimes poorly legible), which in itself complicates the process.
2. Inability to verify answers:
- ChatGPT is not responsible for its recommendations;
- there's no guarantee that the answer matches a specific legal situation and legislative peculiarities;
- AI 'hallucinations' — a phenomenon where the model generates convincing but false data that you will have to double-check.
3. Inability to draft high-quality legal documents:
- currently, AI is not capable of creating legally sound documents (contracts, lawsuits, claims) that take into account the specifics of a particular business and situation;
- AI's comments and revisions to contracts are often detached from reality and legal practice, which can ultimately cause confusion among counterparties and lead to a deal collapse;
- Generated texts require mandatory review and refinement by a lawyer, as AI often cannot properly justify its edits and comments;
- there are no guarantees regarding the correctness of the wording, which could impact the case's outcome.
4. AI cannot represent your interests in court or during negotiations.
This crucial aspect, alongside high-quality document drafting, is fundamental for a positive case outcome.
The Potential of AI as a Support Tool in Legal Practice
The Potential of AI as a Support Tool in Legal Practice
To be fair to AI, technology can be an effective support tool and used for the following tasks:
- preliminary search and structuring of information (though it's still advisable to double-check);
- preparing draft documents;
- identifying basic risks in a contract;
- clarifying complex legal terminology;
- preparing a list of questions for a consultation.
Conclusions
Conclusions
AI is a useful tool for initial situation assessment and automating routine tasks. However, in matters with legal consequences, professional expertise and the specialist's responsibility remain key.
The optimal working model today is a combination of technology and legal practice. AI enhances efficiency, while a lawyer ensures legal security and is accountable for the outcome. If you are not ready to entrust your problem to artificial intelligence and would prefer to entrust your issues to professionals, C Cases lawyers are always happy to help you solve your legal and business challenges.