The illusion of a shortcut
The rise of platforms like ChatGPT has made artificial intelligence more accessible than ever. It is no surprise that some clients have started using AI tools to review the legal letters and documents we prepare. On the surface, this can seem like a time-saving, low-cost second opinion. But in practice, it rarely delivers the clarity or confidence it promises.
AI might be fast, but it is not strategic. And when you are dealing with family law matters that impact your business, your children, and your financial future, speed without strategy is rarely helpful. In many cases, relying on AI to review legal documents ends up causing more confusion, more back and forth, and ultimately more cost.
Context is everything
AI does not understand your commercial interests, your personal goals, or the legal strategy we are executing on your behalf. It cannot evaluate risk in the way a specialist lawyer can.
When clients feed our letters into an AI tool, it often:
- Misinterprets negotiation tactics or legal nuance.
- Flags harmless wording as problematic, based on generalised training data.
- Suggests changes that shift the tone or intent of the letter
These edits might read well on paper, but they can undermine the strategy we have carefully developed. The end result is a document that no longer aligns with your best interests.
More edits, more time, more cost
What starts as an attempt to be proactive often ends up creating avoidable work. When clients rewrite documents based on AI feedback, we are then required to:
- Review every suggested change in detail
- Identify areas where legal meaning may have been lost or altered
- Rework the letter to bring it back in line with the agreed strategy
Because we operate on a time-based billing model, these added layers of review and correction do not come free. The initial AI review might feel like a small step, but the resulting detour can be both time-consuming and expensive.
A smarter use of our expertise
At Leach Legal, our role is not just to produce documents, but to give you clarity and confidence through every stage of your legal journey. If something we have drafted is unclear, or if you want to understand the reasoning behind a particular clause, we encourage you to ask.
Our team is made up of specialists across all aspects of family law. We provide focused, strategic advice that is tailored to your situation and goals. This is where our value lies: not in wordsmithing alone, but in delivering clear legal direction and certainty.
Instead of using AI to second-guess a document, a better approach is to:
- Raise your questions directly with us
- Flag any parts of a letter that do not align with your understanding
- Let us walk you through the legal rationale behind key language
We can resolve these issues quickly, without derailing the process.
What seems helpful can be harmful
Using AI to review legal documents can feel like a smart, modern move. But without the full context of your matter, it often does more harm than good. It shifts focus away from outcomes and into unnecessary edits, reviews, and delays.
We understand the temptation to use all the tools at your disposal. But the best outcomes come from clear communication and trust in your legal team. We are not just here to write – we are here to help you make strategic decisions that protect your business and your future.
When you need the best
If you are ever unsure about something we have drafted, the fastest and most cost-effective solution is to ask. We are in your corner from start to finish.
