In response to the growing issue of AI-generated errors in legal documents, Clearbrief has introduced the Cite Check Report, a feature designed to provide law firm partners with a verified audit trail for legal and factual citations. This innovation comes amid increasing concerns over AI hallucinations, which have led to over 650 documented cases in court filings. Sanctions for such errors have been severe, affecting both financial and reputational aspects for attorneys.
According to Clearbrief CEO Jacqueline Schafer, the tool addresses the dilemma faced by law firm partners who are sometimes unaware of AI usage within their teams. In several instances, AI tools have been employed unbeknownst to partners, sometimes contrary to firm policies, leading to sanctions like an $85,000 penalty imposed on one attorney. The new feature thus seeks to deliver the documented proof required by courts, ensuring that partners fulfill their ethical duties before submitting pleadings.
The Cite Check Report is integrated with Microsoft Word and is noted for its unique ability to verify both legal authority and factual citations. It automatically identifies citations, flags potential issues such as missing sources or formatting errors, and evaluates semantic accuracy. It uses “classic” AI, avoiding generative AI’s risks, and provides hyperlinks for inspection of flagged issues.
Functionality extends to citations from sources like Westlaw and LexisNexis. When necessary, the tool allows for manual verification through PDF uploads. Additionally, Clearbrief’s patented semantic analysis score assesses each citation’s relevance, with low-scoring instances flagged for review. It is the first citation analysis tool in the industry to handle both legal and factual citations comprehensively.
Following a review, partners can generate a Cite Check Report in PDF format that logs every action taken during the review process. This creates a verifiable record that partners can retain for reassurance and potential court evidence. The feature, included with standard Clearbrief subscriptions, supports integration with case databases via partnerships with Fastcase/vLex and optionally with LexisNexis.
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