LegalMind User Guide

Legal Help for Real People - No Law Degree Required

Exclusively for United States residents

⚠️ NOT LEGAL ADVICE

LegalMind provides educational information only. We are NOT a law firm and do NOT provide legal advice.

  • AI can make mistakes (called "hallucinations") - Always verify important information with official sources
  • For legal advice about your specific situation, you MUST consult a licensed attorney in your area
  • Using this service does NOT create an attorney-client relationship (legal protection)
  • We centralize publicly available legal information that's already on the internet - just explained in plain English

ℹ️1. What LegalMind Can and Cannot Do

What We DO:

✓ Provide Educational Information

We help you access and understand publicly available legal information that's already on the internet - we just centralize it and explain it in plain English.

✓ Explain Legal Concepts

Our AI can explain legal terms (jargon), procedures, and concepts in language you can understand. For example, "jurisdiction" means "which court has authority over your case."

✓ Help You Understand Documents

Upload leases, contracts, court papers, or other legal documents and get plain-English summaries and explanations of what they mean.

✓ Search Court Decisions

Find relevant case law (past court rulings) from federal and state courts to see how similar situations were decided.

✓ Generate Document DRAFTS

Create starting points for basic documents like demand letters, responses, or simple contracts. These are DRAFTS ONLY and need review.

✓ Point You to Resources

We can direct you to free legal aid, court self-help centers, and official government resources for your situation.

What We DON'T DO:

✗ Provide Legal Advice

We cannot tell you what you should do in your specific legal situation. Only a licensed attorney who knows your case details can do that.

✗ Represent You in Court

We are not your lawyer and cannot appear in court for you, file documents on your behalf, or speak to judges or other parties for you.

✗ Guarantee Accuracy

AI can make mistakes (called "hallucinations"). You MUST verify all important information with official sources or a licensed attorney.

✗ Create Court-Ready Documents

Our document generation creates DRAFTS ONLY. They are not guaranteed to meet court requirements and MUST be reviewed before filing.

✗ Replace a Real Lawyer

For serious matters, complex cases, or situations involving large sums of money, you need a real lawyer - not an AI tool.

👥2. Who Is LegalMind For?

LegalMind is designed for everyday people in the United States who need help understanding legal information, not for attorneys or law firms.

🏛️ Pro Se Litigants

Representing yourself ("pro se") in small claims court, family court, housing court, or other proceedings. We can help you understand procedures and find relevant case law.

🏠 Tenants

Understanding your lease agreement, fighting unfair evictions, learning about tenant rights, dealing with security deposit disputes, or handling habitability issues.

🛒 Consumers

Reading service contracts, understanding product warranties, knowing consumer protection laws, dealing with debt collectors, or resolving billing disputes.

💼 Employees

Understanding employment contracts, wage and hour laws, workplace rights, wrongful termination basics, or non-compete agreements (contracts restricting future employment).

🏪 Small Business Owners

Basic contract review, understanding legal obligations, simple vendor agreements, or learning about business regulations. For complex matters, hire an attorney.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Law Matters

DIY divorce (uncontested), custody agreement basics, child support calculation, or understanding restraining order procedures (where self-help is allowed by your court).

💳 Debtors

Understanding debt collection laws (FDCPA), knowing your rights when sued by creditors, learning bankruptcy basics, or dealing with wage garnishment (court-ordered payment deduction).

📚 Legal Learners

Anyone who wants to understand their legal rights, learn how the court system works, or research legal topics for personal knowledge and empowerment.

US-Only: LegalMind is exclusively for United States residents. Legal systems vary dramatically between countries, and our information only applies to U.S. federal and state laws.

⚖️3. When You MUST Hire a Lawyer

⚠️ LegalMind is a self-help tool. For the situations below, you NEED a real lawyer:

1. Criminal Charges (ALWAYS GET A LAWYER)

If you're charged with any crime - even a misdemeanor (minor crime) - you need a lawyer immediately. Your freedom is at stake. If you can't afford one, you may qualify for a public defender (free court-appointed attorney).

2. Complex Family Law

Contested custody battles, complicated property division, domestic violence situations, international child abduction cases, or cases involving special needs children require an attorney.

3. Serious Personal Injury

Car accidents with injuries, medical malpractice (doctor errors), slip-and-fall with significant injuries, or workplace accidents need a lawyer. Many work on contingency (they only get paid if you win).

4. Business Litigation

Lawsuits involving your business, partnership disputes, business contract breaches, intellectual property (trademarks, patents) disputes, or employment lawsuits require professional representation.

5. Large Sums of Money

If more than $10,000-$25,000 is at stake (varies by jurisdiction), the cost of hiring a lawyer is usually worth it to protect your interests.

6. You're Confused or Overwhelmed

If you don't understand what's happening in your case, feel overwhelmed by the legal process, or your opponent has a lawyer, you should consult an attorney.

7. Immigration Matters

Deportation defense, asylum applications, complicated visa issues, or citizenship applications should be handled by an immigration attorney. Mistakes can have life-changing consequences.

8. Estate Planning with Complexity

Large estates, complex family situations, special needs trusts, business succession planning, or tax implications require an estate planning attorney.

💡 Finding Free or Low-Cost Legal Help:

  • Legal Aid: Free lawyers for low-income individuals (search "[Your State] legal aid")
  • Court Self-Help Centers: Free assistance at many courthouses
  • Bar Association Referrals: Your state bar can refer you to lawyers with consultation discounts
  • Law School Clinics: Free legal clinics run by law students supervised by professors
  • Public Defender: Free court-appointed lawyer for criminal cases if you can't afford one
  • Limited Scope Representation: Hire a lawyer for just part of your case to save money

💳4. Creating an Account & Pricing

How to Sign Up

Creating an account is quick and easy. Follow these steps:

1

Click "Sign Up"

In the top-right corner of any page, click the "Sign Up" button.

2

Enter Your Information

Provide your name, email address, and create a secure password.

3

Confirm You're in the US

Check the boxes confirming you're 18+ years old and located in the United States.

4

Verify Your Email

Check your email inbox for a verification link and click it to confirm your account.

5

Start Using LegalMind

You'll start on the Free Forever plan. Upgrade anytime to get more features!

Pricing Plans

LegalMind offers three transparent pricing tiers to match your needs. All paid plans include a 20% discount when you choose annual billing (paid once per year). 7-day free trial included on paid plans!

Free Forever

$0/month

Try before you buy

  • 10 AI chat messages/day
  • 2 document analyses/week
  • Basic case law search
  • 1 document generation/month
  • Learn your rights
  • Chat history not saved
  • Priority support

No credit card required

POPULAR

Essential

$24/month

or $20/month billed annually

Save 20% with annual billing

  • 100 AI messages/day
  • 10 document analyses/month
  • 10 document generations/month
  • Unlimited case search
  • Save chat history
  • Email support
  • 7-day free trial

Best for individuals

Pro

$39/month

or $32/month billed annually

Save 20% with annual billing

  • Everything in Essential
  • UNLIMITED AI messages
  • UNLIMITED document analyses
  • 30 document generations/month
  • Priority email support
  • Email chat transcripts
  • 7-day free trial

Best for power users

💡 Why Have an Account?

  • Save Your Work: Chat history, analyzed documents, and generated documents are saved (Essential+ plans)
  • Track Your Research: Return to previous conversations and pick up where you left off
  • Email Transcripts: Get chat transcripts emailed to you for your records (Pro plan)
  • More Features: Higher message limits, document generation, priority support
  • Support the Service: Paid plans help us maintain and improve LegalMind for everyone

💳 Payment & Cancellation

  • Cancel Anytime: No long-term commitment required. Cancel from your account settings.
  • 7-Day Free Trial: Try Essential or Pro risk-free for 7 days. Cancel before trial ends to avoid charges.
  • Secure Payments: We use industry-standard encryption. We never store your full credit card number.
  • Annual Discount: Save 20% by choosing annual billing. Pay once per year instead of monthly.

💬5. AI Chat - Ask Legal Questions

Our AI Legal Assistant can answer questions about legal topics, explain concepts in plain English, and help you understand your situation. It uses advanced AI models (Claude Sonnet 4.5 and GPT-5.1) and can search the internet for the latest information.

⚠️ Remember: This provides information, NOT legal advice for your specific situation.

How to Use AI Chat

Step 1: Navigate to Chat

Click "AI Chat" in the top navigation menu or click "Start Research" on the homepage.

Step 2: Choose Your AI Model

At the top, you'll see a dropdown menu with two options:

  • Claude Sonnet 4.5: Best for detailed explanations and complex reasoning
  • GPT-5.1: Fast, conversational, great for quick questions

Step 3: Web Search is Always On

You'll see a "Web Search Enabled" badge. This means the AI will search the internet for current legal information to answer your questions.

Step 4: Ask Your Question

Type your question in plain English. Be specific! Examples:

  • ✓ "What are tenant rights in California?"
  • ✓ "How do I respond to a small claims court summons?"
  • ✓ "What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in Texas?"
  • ✗ "help" (too vague)

Step 5: Review Citations

On the right side, you'll see "Citations" - these are the sources the AI used. Click them to verify the information!

Tips for Better Answers

✓ DO:

  • • Mention your state (jurisdiction)
  • • Ask specific questions
  • • Provide relevant context
  • • Follow up with clarifying questions
  • • Verify important information

✗ DON'T:

  • • Share sensitive personal information
  • • Expect the AI to "represent" you
  • • Assume AI answers are always correct
  • • Use AI responses in court without verification
  • • Rely solely on AI for critical decisions

⚠️ Verify Everything!

AI can make mistakes called "hallucinations" where it confidently states incorrect information. ALWAYS verify important details with official sources, court websites, or a licensed attorney before relying on them.

12. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is LegalMind a replacement for a real lawyer?

A: No. LegalMind is a self-help educational tool. For legal advice about your specific situation, complex matters, or cases involving large sums of money, you need a licensed attorney.

Q: How accurate is the AI?

A: Our AI models are trained on vast amounts of legal information, but they can make mistakes (called "hallucinations"). Always verify important information with official sources or a lawyer.

Q: Can I use generated documents in court?

A: Generated documents are DRAFTS ONLY. They must be reviewed, customized, and verified for your jurisdiction before filing. Courts may reject improperly formatted documents.

Q: Is my information private?

A: Yes. We use encryption and follow privacy best practices. However, remember that using this service does NOT create attorney-client privilege (legal confidentiality protection).

Q: What if I can't afford a lawyer?

A: Search for "[Your State] legal aid" for free or low-cost legal services. Many courts also have free self-help centers. Law school clinics offer free assistance for certain cases.

Q: Why is this US-only?

A: Legal systems vary dramatically between countries. Our information only applies to United States federal and state laws. Using this for other countries could give you dangerously incorrect information.

Q: Can I cancel my subscription anytime?

A: Yes! Cancel anytime from your account settings. No long-term commitment required. If you're on the 7-day free trial, cancel before it ends to avoid charges.

Need More Help?

Contact us at [email protected] with questions or feedback.

Remember: LegalMind provides educational information only, not legal advice. For legal advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.