Chat GPT. One of the cool tools that Chat GPT allows is the creation of a targeted LLM, which consists of specific databases. The generalized bots will often not access real case law, or are prone to hallucinating citations. Some lawyers have gotten into trouble for relying on fake cites in their work product. Of course, it is fine to use Chat GPT for research; but it is essential to check every citation for accuracy. I discovered a bot that was created for access to Google’s wonderful Google Scholar database, which I use all the time for basic research in case law and published professional journals. It is a comprehensive, free compilation of thousands of cases and articles about just about everything. So, what if you could pair the powerful analysis and writing capabilities of Gen AI with such a database? Presto, Scholar GPT.
“You said:
Are you able to access published legal opinions, and return them as memoranda concerning a particular fact pattern?
Yes, I can search for published legal opinions, analyze them, and summarize them in the form of a legal memorandum based on a specific fact pattern. However, the availability of legal opinions depends on public access and open databases.
What I Can Do:
- Case Law Search: I can search for relevant legal cases based on your fact pattern.
- Summarization & Analysis: I can summarize the cases, highlight key legal principles, and explain how they relate to your fact pattern.
- Legal Memorandum Format: I can structure the response as a legal memorandum, including sections like:
- Issue: The legal question at hand.
- Rule: The governing legal principles.
- Analysis: Application of case law to the facts.
- Conclusion: A reasoned conclusion based on the findings.
Limitations:
- Jurisdiction-Specific Issues: Some cases are behind paywalls (Westlaw, LexisNexis) and may not be accessible.
- Not Legal Advice: I can summarize and analyze case law, but my responses do not constitute legal advice.
- Currentness: Some cases may have been overruled or distinguished, so it’s best to verify with a legal professional.
How to Proceed:
- Provide me with a detailed fact pattern, specifying relevant jurisdictions, legal topics, or key issues.
- Let me know if you are looking for federal or state-level cases.
- I will conduct a case law search and return relevant legal opinions in memorandum format.
Would you like to proceed with a specific fact pattern?”
This is how solo lawyers will compete with BigLaw now and in the future. I have the world’s smartest legal assistant at my beck and call.
