Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as chatbots and writing assistants, are becoming more common. While these tools can help you understand legal concepts or organize your thoughts, they can also provide incorrect or completely fabricated information.

Important: You Are Responsible for Your Filing

If you use AI to help prepare your documents:

• You are responsible for ensuring everything you submit is accurate
• The Court will rely on your filing as if you prepared it yourself
• Incorrect or false information may harm your case

What AI Can Help You Do

AI can be useful for:

• Explaining legal terms in plain language
• Helping you organize your thoughts
• Drafting outlines or summaries
• Improving grammar or clarity

What AI Should NOT Be Used For

Do not rely on AI to:

• Provide case law or legal citations without verification
• Tell you what the law is in your specific situation
• Replace legal advice from an attorney

AI tools can generate case names and citations that do not exist or misrepresent real cases.

Always Verify Before You File

If your document includes legal citations (cases, statutes, or rules), you must verify them.

Checklist

• Confirm the case says what you claim it says
• Confirm the citation is correct
• Confirm the case exists

Where to Verify

• Court websites
• Public legal research tools (such as Google Scholar)
• Law libraries

Example of a Common Problem

AI may generate something like:

"Smith v. Johnson, 123 F.3d 456 (9th Cir. 2020)"

This case may:

• Not exist at all
• Contain different facts than described
• Not support your argument

If you cannot find the case in a trusted source, do not include it.

Best Practice

Before filing:

• Review everything carefully
• Remove anything you cannot verify
• Make sure the document reflects your actual situation

Reminder

Submitting false or inaccurate information, even unintentionally, may negatively affect your case.