Legal Document Basics: What AI Can and Can't Do for You

AI assistants are increasingly capable with legal documents, but understanding their appropriate role is essential. They're powerful tools for certain tasks while remaining unsuitable for others.

AI excels at explanation and analysis. It can translate legal jargon into plain English, highlight unusual clauses, compare documents against templates, and identify provisions that warrant attention. For reviewing contracts, leases, and agreements, this capability is genuinely valuable—you understand what you're signing without expensive attorney fees for routine documents.

But AI cannot provide legal advice. It doesn't understand your specific situation, jurisdiction, or risk tolerance. For significant legal matters—business formation, litigation, complex transactions—professional legal counsel remains essential. Think of AI as a research assistant that helps you understand documents and prepare informed questions for your attorney, not a replacement for professional judgment on consequential legal decisions.