If you receive a letter from a lawyer, whether it’s a cease and desist, a demand letter, or a notice of breach, it might be tempting to use AI to draft a response. Tools like ChatGPT and others are fast and easy to use, but responding to legal correspondence without an attorney can have serious legal consequences. Here are five reasons why using AI to respond to a lawyer’s letter is a mistake.
1. You Might Make Inadvertant Admissions
AI-generated responses often sound professional and polite, but they can include phrases that legally count as admissions. Even something as simple as saying “we didn’t intend to cause confusion” can hurt your case. Opposing counsel may use your words as evidence against you, especially since you will have signed the correspondence yourself.
2. You Could Waive Important Legal Defenses
Legal defenses must often be raised early. If your AI-generated response misses key arguments or fails to reserve your rights, you may lose the chance to assert them later. AI doesn’t understand your legal strategy or know how to preserve your position under the law.
3. Your Response Can Be Used Against You in Court
Once you send a response, it becomes part of the record. If the AI-generated letter contains incorrect legal statements, factual mistakes, or poor wording, it can be used as evidence. This may limit your ability to defend yourself or negotiate a better outcome later.
4. AI Doesn’t Understand Jurisdiction, Risk, or Strategy
Every legal matter has unique risks and jurisdictional rules. AI doesn’t know which deadlines apply, how serious the claims are, or whether a response should even be sent. A poor response could provoke litigation, waive your rights, or miss key statute of limitations deadlines.
5. It Makes Your Lawyer’s Job Harder Later
If you involve a lawyer after sending an AI-drafted response, they may be stuck working around the damage. Some positions cannot be walked back. This can increase legal fees and reduce your chances of resolving the issue favorably.
The Bottom Line
Legal correspondence should always be taken seriously. What you say in response can have lasting legal consequences. Using AI to respond may save time and money in the short term, but it often creates bigger problems down the road.
If you’ve received legal correspondence and aren’t sure how to respond, reach out to Sapience Law to discuss your options. A short consultation now can help you avoid costly mistakes later. Schedule a Consultation.