A grounded look at where AI helps, where it doesn't, and when to call a human lawyer.
AI legal tools have gone from novelty to mainstream, promising faster answers and lower costs. The reality is more nuanced — they help with some tasks and fall short on others.
Where AI helps
AI is genuinely useful for first drafts, summarizing documents, explaining terms in plain English, and pointing you toward the right resources. For routine paperwork, it can save real time and money.
Where it falls short
AI can be confidently wrong, may miss jurisdiction-specific rules, and cannot exercise judgment about your unique situation. For anything high-stakes — court deadlines, contracts you'll sign, or potential liability — treat AI as a starting point, not a substitute for a licensed attorney.