Reasons some people use AI
Legal problems can be confusing and stressful.
You might use AI (artificial intelligence) because you:
- cannot afford a lawyer
- are not eligible for help from Victoria Legal Aid or a community legal centre
- need help understanding what your lawyer told you.
How AI might help
AI could:
- help you identify and describe your legal issue
- explain legal words and information in ways you understand
- translate information into your preferred language
- help you write legal documents and complete forms
- answer questions anytime
- reassure and coach you while you are dealing with legal issues
- suggest services that can help.
How to reduce the risks
AI can be a useful tool but it comes with risks, so you need to be careful.
AI can make mistakes, give outdated information and make the wrong answer sound believable. Translations may also be inaccurate.
To reduce the risks:
- Protect your privacy – do not share sensitive personal information with AI tools. For example, do not give your full name, address or any information that can identify you (add those details to documents yourself).
- Check AI-generated information and documents carefully – do not use anything that you do not understand.
- Do not rely on AI for legal advice – it cannot understand your legal situation, ask the right questions and advise you in the same way a lawyer can. If you can get legal advice.
- Limit how much AI-generated information and research you produce – too much can be confusing and overwhelming. If you are paying a lawyer, it can also increase costs if they need to review large amounts of AI-generated material.
Tips to improve effectiveness
- Tell AI that you are in Victoria, Australia – laws are different in other places.
- Tell AI what you need and why – clear instructions and context improve results.
- Ask AI to use trusted sources of information – such as courts, legal aid commissions, community legal centres, government departments and Victorian law firms. Do not trust information from chat rooms, discussion boards and social media groups. If you are not sure, ask AI where it got the information from.
- Upload resources for AI to work from – self-help kits, fact sheets and other resources from trusted organisations can improve results.
- Tell AI to ask you questions – ask it to tell you what other information it needs or what could help it better understand your issue.
- Tell AI to challenge your thinking – say that it does not have to agree with you. Ask it to point out anything you may have misunderstood, missed or need to check.
More information and help
If you have a legal problem, there are services that may be able to help.
Victoria Legal Aid
We can help in different ways, depending on your situation. We have limited resources and demand for our services is high. We use guidelines to decide who can get help and for what issues. There may be long waiting times.
You can:
- search for legal information and learn about your options on our website by visiting I need legal information about
- use Legal Help Chat or call Legal Help on 1300 792 387 for free information, advice and referrals
- find out how to apply for a grant of legal assistance if you cannot afford a lawyer by visiting Paying for a lawyer
- visit or contact our Public Law Library for help with legal research.
Community legal centres
Community legal centres provide free, confidential help to people in need. Services and availability can vary. Visit Find a community legal centre on the Federation of Community Legal Centres’ website.
Private lawyers
If you can afford to pay a lawyer:
- find a lawyer and get a free first interview (without legal advice) through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Find your lawyer referral service
- ask how much it will cost – visit Six questions to ask about legal costs on the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner website.
Acknowledgement
We thank the Victoria Law Foundation for suggesting and contributing to this resource.
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