How AI Is Changing the Way We Do Legal Research and Why Authority Still Matters ?

- Article by Aurora V. Solis

There was a time when legal research meant heavy books, endless case law citations, and quiet hours in the library. You knew where to look, and you knew the source carried weight. The hierarchy was clear: the bare act, reported judgments, and authoritative commentaries.

But today, things look very different. Google Search has become the first stop for students and lawyers alike. And now, with AI tools that can summarize judgments or draft legal notes in seconds, research feels faster than ever. Yet, beneath this convenience, something important is slipping away—the sense of authority.

When Google Took Over

Let’s be honest: Google made life easier. Typing a quick query and pulling up blogs, PDFs, or summaries saved hours of page-turning. But it also blurred the line between what is reliable and what is simply well-ranked. Search engines don’t care about jurisprudence—they care about clicks.

This means that blogs or forums sometimes get read as if they were commentaries by jurists. Slowly, the culture of authority—where sources were carefully chosen—started to erode.

The AI Twist

Then came AI. Suddenly, you can ask a chatbot to “summarize this judgment” or “explain Section 34 CPC” and get an answer that sounds confident. But here’s the catch:

• AI can hallucinate citations.

• It often misses statutory nuance.

• And unlike SCC or AIR reports, it doesn’t carry the weight of recognition.

To a young lawyer, it might look polished. But in a courtroom, judges can spot the difference between genuine authority and algorithmic output in seconds.

Why Authority Is Not Optional

In law, authority isn’t just about correctness—it’s about legitimacy. A Supreme Court citation isn’t just information; it’s precedent. A seasoned commentary isn’t just an explanation; it’s an interpretation shaped by decades of scholarship.

When we skip that chain of authority, we risk building arguments that sound good but don’t stand up in court. And in law, that’s a dangerous shortcut.

Finding the Middle Path

The answer isn’t to reject AI—it’s to use it smartly. AI can give you speed, but it can’t give you authority. Think of it as a helpful junior intern: quick with drafts, but always needing a senior’s eye.

• Use AI for summaries and brainstorming.

• Always verify with the bare act, official judgments, and trusted commentaries.

• Let AI save time, but let the authority decide your argument.

AI is here to stay, and so is Google. But if the legal profession is to remain credible, it cannot outsource authority to algorithms. The future of research lies in a balance: AI for speed, authority for trust.

Because in the end, law isn’t just about answers—it’s about answers you can stand by.


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