Why Using AI For Legal Advice Is A Risky Move

With an incredible 800 million weekly users, ChatGPT has become a go-to tool for countless tasks. According to its parent company, OpenAI, people use the chatbot for everything from programming and data analysis to translation and finding recipes.

The Alarming Trend of AI for Sensitive Advice

While many applications are harmless, a concerning trend has emerged: people are seeking advice from AI on sensitive and critical issues. This includes using chatbots for therapy, a practice that worries experts like psychologist Vaile Wright. On a recent episode of the "Speaking of Psychology" podcast, Wright noted that AI often just tells users what they want to hear. She warned, "if you are a person that, in that particular moment, is struggling and is typing in potential harmful or unhealthy behaviors and thoughts, these types of chatbots are built to reinforce those harmful thoughts and behaviors."

This pattern of seeking AI guidance extends into other high-stakes areas, including the legal field.

A Lawyer's Warning on AI Legal Counsel

Jackie Combs, a prominent family and divorce attorney at Blank Rome who represents high-net-worth clients, has observed this trend firsthand, particularly among younger clients. "One of the things that I am seeing with a lot of younger generation, millennials and Gen Z particularly," she says, "is they are turning to ChatGPT for legal advice."

Combs strongly advises against this practice. She frequently receives legal analyses from clients that were generated by ChatGPT, and she consistently finds that the information is not entirely accurate.

In many cases, it's incorrectly applying the law.

Jackie Combs, Divorce attorney, Blank Rome

Why ChatGPT Fails as a Legal Advisor

The fundamental problem is that AI cannot grasp the nuances and unique circumstances of an individual legal case. According to Combs, ChatGPT fails to consider "the complex nature that is different to everybody's case." More critically, she states that "in many cases, it's incorrectly applying the law."

When dealing with life-altering decisions like a divorce, relying on advice from a machine that can misinterpret or misapply legal statutes is a significant risk. The potential for being led astray is simply too high.

The Irreplaceable Value of Human Expertise

Ultimately, an AI chatbot is no replacement for a qualified professional. Combs emphasizes that ChatGPT "is not a substitute for the years of experience that an attorney can provide." Her definitive advice for anyone needing legal guidance is clear and simple: "always consult with an attorney."

Want to level up your AI skills? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It's new online course, How To Use AI To Communicate Better At Work. Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.