Thinking about using AI to represent yourself in litigation? Think again. It is well-documented that pro se litigants (those who represent themselves) are less likely to prevail compared to their represented counterparts, due to a lack of procedural and substantive legal knowledge. Regardless, AI has provided people with a false sense of security, tempting them to represent themselves regardless of the statistical realities and consequences. For experienced attorneys – like those at Lavelle Law – AI errors are obvious. But for pro se litigants, blind confidence in AI-generated “legal advice” can be costly.
More judges are becoming less tolerant of litigants making misrepresentations in pleadings based on what AI tells them. As the use of AI in the courtroom has increased, courts have not hesitated to impose sanctions for AI misuse where parties cite fake cases and false arguments due to overreliance on AI. Sanctions may include monetary penalties, requirements to donate to a legal
