Legal research is being transformed — and the risks are real
Legal research is one of the oldest and most essential skills in the profession. The ability to find relevant precedent, distinguish holdings, interpret statutes, and synthesise authority into persuasive arguments is what separates competent legal practice from guesswork.
AI is transforming this workflow in ways that are simultaneously exciting and dangerous. On one hand, AI can analyse case law, identify relevant precedent, and draft research memoranda at a speed that no associate can match. On the other hand, AI can hallucinate case citations — generating references to cases that do not exist, with plausible party names and reporter citations — and present them with the same confidence as real authority.
This module covers both sides: how to use AI to dramatically improve your legal research workflow, and how to implement the verification safeguards that keep you out of trouble.
