Validation Mindset: Why Verification Is Non‑Negotiable
In legal practice, “plausible” is not good enough. AI output must be verified against authoritative sources before use in advice, filings, or client communication.
Key takeaways
- Verification is mandatory for anything beyond low-stakes drafting.
- Treat AI output like a junior draft: helpful, not authoritative.
- Document your validation steps for defensibility.
Your baseline rule
Never rely on an AI-generated citation, quote, or factual claim without checking it. Verification is faster than fixing sanctions.
A defensible workflow
- Generate a draft with the model.
- Extract every factual claim/citation into a checklist.
- Verify using primary sources (cases/statutes) and trusted secondary sources.
- Revise the draft with corrected citations and tightened reasoning.
- Keep a record of what you checked (for defensibility).
When to stop using the model
If the model repeatedly invents citations, refuses to follow constraints, or cannot stay within a jurisdiction, stop and switch to traditional research tools or a retrieval system that uses a vetted database.
Reference example
Example of why verification matters: Mata v. Avianca (S.D.N.Y. June 22, 2023).