Using ChatGPT to Search for a Lawyer

With the recent release of ChatGPT and now Google introducing “Bard” AI is transforming the way consumers look for law firms and approach searching for answers. We thought it would be interesting to test ChatGPT and see what results would produce if asked a question, so we asked it a question more in the form of a statement to see the result. The query:  “I am in McHenry County and I need a lawyer.” The following below is a result of that query.   

Looking for a Lawyer in McHenry County, Illinois?

“If you need a lawyer in McHenry County, Illinois, there are several ways to find one:

  1. Referral from friends or family: Ask if anyone you know has worked with a lawyer in McHenry County and if they would recommend them.

  2. Illinois State Bar Association: You can use the Illinois State Bar Association’s “Lawyer Finder” service to find a lawyer in McHenry County who specializes in the type of legal issue you need help with. You can search by practice area, location, and more.

  3. McHenry County Bar Association: You can also contact the McHenry County Bar Association for a referral. Their website has a directory of local attorneys, and they also offer a Lawyer Referral Service.

  4. Online legal directories: Websites like Avvo, FindLaw, and Lawyers.com can also help you find a lawyer in McHenry County. These sites allow you to search by practice area and location, and you can also read reviews from past clients.

When you speak with a lawyer, be sure to ask about their experience in handling cases like yours, their fees and payment arrangements, and what they can do to help you with your legal issue.”

The response was on point as referrals from friends and family are #1 as they are the ones that may have had a positive or negative experience with a lawyer and can guide you to or steer you away from a lawyer.  The other responses relative to Bar Associations and Other Directors are other good resources as well. But at the end of the day good old fashion due diligence is always encouraged.   

What if I asked the AI about a specific area of practice?

General to Specific Areas of Practice

After trying the general query, I thought I would be more specific and ask it, “What if I need a divorce attorney”.  The following below is a result of the query.

“If you need a divorce attorney in McHenry County, Illinois, there are several ways to find one:

  1. Referral from friends or family: Ask if anyone you know has worked with a divorce attorney in McHenry County and if they would recommend them.

  2. Illinois State Bar Association: You can use the Illinois State Bar Association’s “Lawyer Finder” service to find a divorce attorney in McHenry County. You can search by practice area, location, and more.

  3. McHenry County Bar Association: You can also contact the McHenry County Bar Association for a referral to a divorce attorney. Their website has a directory of local attorneys, and they also offer a Lawyer Referral Service.

  4. Online legal directories: Websites like Avvo, FindLaw, and Lawyers.com can also help you find a divorce attorney in McHenry County. These sites allow you to search by practice area and location, and you can also read reviews from past clients.

When you speak with a divorce attorney, be sure to ask about their experience in handling divorce cases, their fees and payment arrangements, and what they can do to help you with your divorce. It’s important to choose an attorney who has experience in divorce law and who you feel comfortable working with, as divorce can be a stressful and emotional process.”

It appears that the response was similar to the general inquiry but just added the word “divorce attorney” to the response, which then begged the question if I asked the same question but for a different area of practice would I get the same result.  So I asked “What if I need a personal injury lawyer”, the response was similar.

The response. 

If you need a personal injury lawyer in McHenry County, Illinois, here are some ways to find one:

  1. Referral from friends or family: Ask if anyone you know has worked with a personal injury lawyer in McHenry County and if they would recommend them.

  2. Illinois State Bar Association: You can use the Illinois State Bar Association’s “Lawyer Finder” service to find a personal injury lawyer in McHenry County. You can search by practice area, location, and more.

  3. McHenry County Bar Association: You can also contact the McHenry County Bar Association for a referral to a personal injury lawyer. Their website has a directory of local attorneys, and they also offer a Lawyer Referral Service.

  4. Online legal directories: Websites like Avvo, FindLaw, and Lawyers.com can also help you find a personal injury lawyer in McHenry County. These sites allow you to search by practice area and location, and you can also read reviews from past clients.

When you speak with a personal injury lawyer, be sure to ask about their experience in handling cases like yours, their fees and payment arrangements, and what they can do to help you with your personal injury case. Personal injury cases can be complex, so it’s important to choose an attorney who has experience in this area of law and who you feel comfortable working with.”

 

Who Do You Recommend

So I thought I would ask one more another question which was “who do you recommend as a lawyer in McHenry County Illinois”.  

See the response to the query below. 

As an AI language model, I am not able to provide specific recommendations for lawyers or law firms. However, I can suggest that you use the resources I mentioned earlier to help you find a lawyer in McHenry County, Illinois, who has experience in the area of law you need help with. You can use these resources to narrow down your search based on your specific legal issue and to find attorneys who have good reviews and ratings from past clients.

It’s important to do your own research and to speak with a few different attorneys before making a decision. This will help you find an attorney who has the experience and skills you need, and who you feel comfortable working with. When you speak with potential attorneys, ask questions about their experience, their approach to handling cases, and their fees and payment arrangements. This will help you make an informed decision about which attorney to hire.”

It is good that AI does not give specific recommendations and that good old fashion research and due diligence is still required. A recommendation can be subjective. So I thought I would ask one more question in a quantifiable manner.  

Traffic to the Law Firm Website

The next question was “what lawyers or law firms have the most traffic to their website in McHenry County, Illinois.”  It appears that the AI does not have access to website traffic or data, but it was interesting to see the response below. 

As an AI language model, I do not have access to website traffic data for lawyers or law firms in McHenry County, Illinois. However, there are several prominent law firms in the area that have well-designed websites with useful information about their legal services and experience.

Some of the well-known law firms in McHenry County, Illinois, that have well-designed websites include:

  1. Franks Gerkin McKenna: This law firm has a modern and user-friendly website with detailed information about their practice areas, attorneys, and recent legal developments.

  2. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.: This law firm has a professional and informative website that includes helpful resources for clients, such as blog articles, case results, and client testimonials.

  3. Prime Law Group: This law firm has a well-organized and user-friendly website with detailed information about their practice areas and attorneys. They also have a blog with articles on various legal topics.

  4. Stetler Law Group: This law firm has a clean and simple website that highlights their areas of expertise in bankruptcy law and debt relief. They also have helpful resources for clients, such as a debt calculator and bankruptcy FAQs.

  5. Martin & Kent, L.L.C.: This law firm has a professional website that emphasizes their experience and success in criminal defense, DUI defense, and traffic violations.

It’s important to note that having a well-designed website does not necessarily indicate the popularity or success of a law firm. However, a good website can be a useful tool for potential clients to learn more about a law firm’s areas of practice, attorneys, and approach to handling legal cases.”

As AI continues to develop and more real time data and analytics become part of the algorithms it will be interesting to see how consumers use AI to research legal topics and search for a lawyer. More to come as this technology continues to evolve.

By: James G. Militello III

02.17.2023