Research practice · 4 min read
A practical checklist for checking AI-assisted citations
A citation is a starting point for verification. A polished answer still needs a practitioner to check the authority and its relevance to the matter.
1. Does the source exist?
Open the cited legislation, judgment or practice direction in an authoritative source. Check the title, reference and passage rather than relying on a generated summary.
2. Is it the current version?
Check amendments, commencement and the date of the source. A reference to legislation can be real but out of date for the question at hand.
3. Does the passage support the proposition?
Read enough surrounding text to establish what the authority actually says. Note any limits, exceptions or factual distinctions.
4. Is it binding or persuasive in this context?
Consider court hierarchy, jurisdiction and the procedural setting. A relevant citation is not automatically decisive.
5. Can another lawyer retrace your work?
Keep the source link, passage, date checked and your own assessment alongside the draft. That makes review practical and the final advice easier to defend.
For general information only. Not legal advice. Check current authorities and obtain advice for a specific matter.