Artificial intelligence can be a great tool for learning the basics about the law. It can help you understand legal terms, court procedures, and even give you a general idea of what to expect from your case. But when it comes to actually communicating with your attorney, AI is the last thing you should be using.
Here’s why.
Your Lawyer Needs Your Words, Not AI’s Guesswork
When you’re communicating with your attorney, the most important thing is clear, honest communication. Your attorney doesn’t want a cleaned-up version of your story. They don’t want what you, or an AI, think sounds like a good legal explanation. They want the truth, in your words, with all the details, even if they seem messy or unimportant to you.
AI gets in the way of that. It tries to make your message sound more “professional” or “legal.” That might seem helpful, but it’s not. It hides what actually happened and replaces it with language that sounds like something from a law school textbook. That just makes it harder for your attorney to understand what really went on.
AI Makes It Harder to Spot the Problem
Attorneys are trained to read between the lines. When you tell us what happened, in your own words, we can spot the red flags. We can tell if something needs more digging or if there’s a problem you didn’t realize was important. But when AI rewrites your message, it covers up those clues. It makes it harder for us to do our job and help you.
You Might Leave Out the Most Important Parts
AI doesn’t know which facts matter most in your case. It may cut or change things you think are “off topic” or “not important.” But your attorney might see those exact details as critical to your defense, your strategy, or your claim. By using AI to write your message, you may be taking away the very thing your attorney needs to help you the most.
Use AI to Learn, Not to Communicate
Don’t get me wrong, I encourage my clients to use AI to learn more about the legal process. If you want to know the difference between a trademark and a copyright, or how a deposition works, AI can help with that. It’s a great starting point. But when it comes to direct communication with your lawyer, leave the AI out of the picture. Just tell me what happened. The way you would tell a friend. Your attorney will take care of the legal part from there.
Final Thoughts
If you want the best legal help, the best thing you can do is be open and honest, with your words, not an AI’s. We don’t need perfect grammar or polished paragraphs. We just need the truth. And that starts with you.
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