AI for Legal Research Explained: What Every Attorney Should Know

By Gordon Rogo, J.D., Business Development Representative at LEAP

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most talked about topics within the legal industry. Conversations often center on AI’s role, purpose, and effectiveness in a law firm’s daily work.

For some, AI might feel like an abstract concept. In reality, AI is simply modern technology designed to handle tasks that previously required more human effort. One of the most powerful applications of AI in the legal field is its use for researching, synthesizing, and analyzing the law.

For legal professionals considering AI to assist with research, some key questions may emerge:

• Why is legal AI becoming an essential tool for modern law firms?

• When should I use AI to conduct legal research?

• How can I use AI in my research responsibly?

In this article, we’ll break down the why, when, and how of AI-assisted legal research to help you utilize it confidently and responsibly in your practice.

Why Should I Use Legal AI Research Tools in My Practice?

Here are three reasons why legal professionals should consider AI for legal research:

Retrieve & Understand the Law Faster

In seconds, a lawyer or their support staff can use AI legal research tools to generate responses drawn from a reliable knowledge base—not just the general web. Legal professionals can conduct routine research like retrieving legislation, statutes, and case law, and uncover policy reasons behind a law.

AI legal research can also help answer complex legal questions such as providing the statutory factors required to set or modify an order, identifying the tax implications in an estate matter, or exploring which case law should be applied to support or challenge a motion. Depending on the AI solution being used, there may even be an option to have a licensed attorney verify AI-generated output to help ensure accuracy or add helpful additions.

Stay Ahead in a Changing Market

As more law firms embrace and benefit from AI, others will feel compelled to follow to remain competitive. By expediting their legal research process with AI, law firms can free up time for other priorities, such as cultivating stronger relationships with clients or focusing on firm growth.

Free Up More Time for What Matters

Performing tedious legal research isn’t how most people want to spend their day. AI tools can help individuals reclaim valuable time to spend on other important tasks. This can reduce extra working hours so that more time can be spent with family and friends, on hobbies, or simply relaxing—helping them strike a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing the quality of their work or firm profitability.

When Should I Use Legal AI Research Tools in My Practice?

There are many ways to utilize AI tools for legal research throughout the course of a matter. Here are three practical uses:

Early Case Assessment & Issue Spotting

If you’ve just finished a consultation with a prospective client, you will need to determine the viability of a case and whether it will be worth taking on. To help you do so, you’ll need to assess the facts at hand and research previous judgments on comparable cases. AI can streamline this process by quickly producing information about:

• Relevant statutes & case law.

• Procedural checklists.

• Jurisdiction-specific standards.

The answers you gain from AI-assisted research can provide a quick, reliable baseline understanding of a case’s strength before you officially take it on and invest time in deeper research.

Updating or Validating Existing Research

AI legal research is ideal for cross-referencing research that you have already conducted. For example, if you are drafting an internal legal memorandum or preparing a motion, brief, or court memo, you may need to confirm:

• You’ve cited cases that are still controlling law in your jurisdiction.

• There aren’t more cases—recent or otherwise—that strengthen or weaken your argument.

• Whether there are policy considerations behind a law that may tip the scale of your case.

AI legal research tools can flag overturned or distinguished law. They can also suggest more authoritative decisions, helping you gain more confidence that you are on the right track to put together the best argument for your client.

Researching Highly Specific or Emerging Legal Questions

AI-assisted legal research tools can help you find answers to newly emerging, minimally adjudicated legal questions. For nuanced, evolving, or fact-intensive legal matters, AI can help you:

• Surface relevant case law.

• Uncover analogous fact patterns in other cases.

• Synthesize multi-jurisdictional authority.

• Provide summaries and rule statements.

This assistance can help reduce the time required to navigate complex areas of law.

How Can I Use Legal AI Research in My Practice Responsibly?

Not all AI is created equal. When using it for legal purposes, always opt for reputable AI products created strictly for the practice of law. Some tools, like LawY, blend cutting-edge AI with human-verified legal knowledge in order to produce a more accurate starting point for legal research.

In contrast, general-purpose AI tools typically lack the legal, jurisdictional, and security context required. As a result, they may produce outdated or inaccurate results, pose security risks, and jeopardize client confidentiality.

Although legal-specific research tools still require thorough oversight, the additional layers built for the complexities of law provide greater assurance in the results—including, with LawY, the option to have an experienced attorney verify the output.

The Ethics of AI Legal Research Tool Usage

Leading legal-specific AI tools are designed to support the ethical standards required by the Professional Rules of Responsibility. They operate in a secure, closed environment. This protects sensitive information and upholds professional confidentiality obligations. Still, legal professionals should avoid entering unnecessary client identifiers when prompting a search.

While AI can expedite the research process, it cannot substitute an attorney’s duty of competence, diligence, and independent professional judgment as outlined in ABA Model Rules 1.1 and 1.3. Ultimately, you remain fully accountable for all research relied upon or presented. It is always the attorney’s responsibility to ensure that no non-existent or hallucinated citations are referenced. Carefully review all cited cases, statutes, and regulations to confirm their accuracy, context, and jurisdictional relevance. Even the best legal AI tools cannot replace an attorney’s ability to create correct and proper Bluebook citations that meet requisite court standards.

Embracing AI Legal Research at Your Law Firm

AI is no longer the future of law. It’s the present—and it’s already transforming how firms work. When used responsibly, legal AI empowers law firms to work with more efficiency and balance.

LEAP offers an award-winning suite of AI tools designed specifically for legal work. This includes LawY—the trusted AI legal research assistant that provides optional verification by qualified local attorneys. Trusted globally, LawY blends cutting-edge legal AI with human expertise to help you research smarter, work faster, and practice with more confidence.

Schedule a demo today to see LEAP and LawY in action.

About the Writer

Gordon Rogo, J.D. is a lawyer on the Business Development Team for LEAP US. Gordon graduated from Florida A&M University College of Law. He started his career clerking at Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman before moving into corporate roles. Today, Gordon works with law firms across the country to help them use technology to run more efficient practices and create a healthier work-life balance.