The risk that ends careers.
WHAT HAPPENS
Ask a model for authority on a point and it produces case names, citations, courts and years.
They look correct. Frequently they do not exist.
Sometimes real cases are cited for propositions they do not support.
WHY
The model generates text resembling citations. It is not searching a database.
WHAT HAS RESULTED
Practitioners in several jurisdictions sanctioned for filing documents containing fabricated authorities.
Wasted court time, costs orders, referrals to regulators, and professional embarrassment.
THE ONLY SAFE PRACTICE
Retrieve and read every authority before citing it.
Not verify that it exists. Read it, and confirm it says what is claimed.
WHAT DOES NOT WORK
Asking the model whether the citation is real Checking only the ones that look unusual Assuming a tool marketed for legal use does not do this
WHAT IS SAFER
Tools that search actual databases and link to the source.
Even then, read the source.
THE RULE
If you have not read it, do not cite it.
