AI LLMs have changed the way we learn new things, study, seek out products, and even take action to help ourselves and loved ones when we’re in danger. And I was recently made aware of the evolving practice of domestic abuse victims using ChatGPT (and other answer engines) to better understand their options and help themselves legally.
And this likely isn’t a trend. There are a number of reasons why people in dangerous, tense domestic abuse situations may feel more comfortable turning to ChatGPT before they call 911. And many of them are quite reasonable.
Let’s talk about why this happens, the advantages for your potential clients, and how to serve these survivors efficiently and meaningfully.
ChatGPT offers a number of advantages over something more obvious and audible, such as a 911 call, or even a traditional internet search.
For one, using ChatGPT to understand their personal and legal situation can feel slower and more manageable for a victim. Users can talk to the LLM over weeks or months, describing tense conversations, thrown objects, or loud fights and get the software’s opinion as to whether that behavior constitutes abuse.
These chat logs can be saved, emailed, or screenshotted to be read and understood at length, serve as evidence later, or help build a timeline of alarming or dangerous incidents.
A user’s personal ChatGPT account is also more private than an internet search. If a victim wants to research domestic abuse laws in their state or find the address of a local shelter, they don’t have to worry about deleting their search history so it’s not discovered later.
Next, ChatGPT is silent. A victim won’t have to wait until an abusive spouse is out of the home to make a phone call, hide in a stairway, or try to explain their situation to a 911 operator using coded language.
Finally, when a potential client is ready to seek out legal help, ChatGPT can answer the question “Are there any good family law attorneys near me?” in moments.
One of the simplest ways to help reach these clients is to make sure that your firm’s website and online presence can be readily seen by LLMs. In this approach, you’re not competing with answer engines: you’re anticipating client use and meeting them exactly where they are, right now.
This gives users the chance to note your firm’s name, discreetly save your number, and give your office a call when they have the privacy and free time to do so.
Next, make sure you have the administrative support to help you focus on listening to your client’s concerns, representing them forcefully, and advising them wisely as they begin to move forward with their lives.
To this end, an ILA from DocketWorks can be genuinely helpful. Far more helpful than an AI agent, your ILA can handle a variety of administrative tasks in real time, allowing you to dedicate 10 to 40 hours per week to consultations, strategy, hearings, and the tailored, personable representation your client needs.
Your ILA will be trained to support your family law firm on day one and innately understands privacy, confidentiality, and the importance of your client’s safety, needs, and legal concerns. Let them manage motion drafting, scheduling, legal research, e-filing, and evidence organization, freeing you to do quality work and even allowing you to increase your casework.
That creates a two-part strategy:
With Speakeasy Authority Marketing and DocketWorks, both avenues are possible, reasonably priced, and ready to work together.
Your plan to serve even more survivors and advocate for people who need your help can begin with a two-tiered strategy: ChatGPT-optimized marketing and a reliable, efficient fellow lawyer to free up your time and schedule.
To see the difference an ILA can make for your firm, clients, and growth, reach out to legal support specialist Parke Parker for a Discovery Call today.
Grace Singh is a writer and editor for DocketWorks. She enjoys bridging services and client needs in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and human-focused, even as technology continues to change. When she’s not at her home office, she enjoys nature walks, reading, and brewing coffee.