How to review AI-generated legal citations
A practical companion to Mostafa Soliman’s AI Journal article: retrieve the source, test the proposition, and document review.
Original publication · The AI Journal · Apr 24, 2025
Integrity in the Digital Age: Balancing Efficiency with AI-Generated Citations
Read the original article at The AI JournalThe guide below offers practical discussion prompts alongside the original article. It does not reproduce the publisher’s text.
The article considers how unverified AI-generated citations can undermine legal work and professional credibility. It argues for clearer accountability, oversight, and verification practices as AI tools become more common in legal practice.
Read the full article at The AI Journal.
From the issue to the workflow
Retrieve the authority
Move from the generated answer to an independent legal source. Locate each case, statute, or rule and confirm its identifying details. If an authority cannot be found, stop relying on that citation until the discrepancy is resolved. Asking the same model to confirm its answer does not provide independent verification.
Read for the proposition
An existing case may still be cited for something it does not say. Read the relevant passage in context, compare quotations and pinpoints, and distinguish a holding from an argument or background discussion. Evaluate jurisdiction and subsequent treatment using appropriate research tools.
Make review visible
Assign a reviewer, keep a record of the authorities checked, and review the final document after revisions. A useful training exercise is to take a short AI-assisted draft and ask participants to explain the source behind every legal proposition. The goal is a repeatable research process with identifiable responsibility.
Educational discussion. Apply the rules, guidance, and orders relevant to your jurisdiction and matter.
Connect this to your work.
Explore the wider topic, use a practical review checklist, or discuss a program for your team.