AI Tools Fuel Surge in Self-Represented Court Cases, Study Finds

AI Tools Accelerate Rise in Self-Represented Court Cases

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude have dramatically increased the number of people representing themselves in court without an attorney, according to a pre-print research paper titled "Access to Justice in the Age of AI: Evidence from U.S. Federal Courts."

Key Findings from the Study

The paper, authored by Anand Shah and Joshua Levy, argues that AI has lowered the barriers to self-representation, leading to a surge in pro se cases. These cases are also becoming more complex, placing additional strain on judges and court systems.

"If generative AI dramatically lowers the cost of self-represented litigation, the resulting surge in filings could overwhelm a system that depends on human judgment at every stage of adjudication."

Data Sources and Trends

The researchers analyzed over 4.5 million non-prisoner civil court cases from 2005 to 2026, along with 46 million PACER docket entries. They found that the share of pro se cases remained stable at 11% until 2022, when it began rising sharply to 16.8% in 2025.

The study highlights that self-representation was historically difficult due to complex legal requirements, such as drafting complaints and navigating procedural rules. However, the widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs) has changed this dynamic:

• AI tools enable individuals to draft legal documents at minimal cost.
• Users can obtain case-specific legal guidance without a law degree.
• The release of GPT-4 in March 2023 further enhanced these capabilities.

AI Detection and Case Complexity

To support their findings, the researchers examined a random sample of 1,600 complaints from 2019 to 2026 using AI detection software Pangram. They found that AI-generated legal documents rose from essentially zero in the pre-AI period to over 18% in 2026.

The study also notes that pro se cases are not only increasing in number but also in complexity. The researchers describe these cases as "heavier," requiring more judicial resources and motions.

Limitations and Future Research

The paper clarifies that it does not establish a direct causal link between AI tools and individual cases. Instead, it observes a correlation between the rise of generative AI and the increase in pro se filings:

"We do not claim to identify a causal effect of GPT-4 on pro se filing, only that the observed time series is difficult to rationalize without generative AI playing a role."

The researchers suggest further investigation is needed to fully understand the long-term impact of AI on the justice system.