Q: With the proliferation of artificial intelligence, it seems like any one can go online, punch in a legal question and get an answer. What if it turns out to be bad advice? Can you sue?

T.B., Torrance

A: Artificial intelligence is useful, informative and rather remarkable. But A.I. is not a person — or a licensed attorney. It is a form of language that does not dispense legal advice, which you can simply assume is reliable. Further, if you review the “terms of use” of the A.I. platform, it very likely states it is not a substitute for actual legal guidance by a professional individual or group, that indeed the information is not intended to be relied upon in and of itself, and then will disclaim liability.

A.I. can be helpful, but I would not substitute it for an actual attorney.

Q: On my auto crash case, am I safe to go with one of these law firms who advertise on television?

S.J., Orange

A: The decision on who to hire to represent you in any case, let alone a vehicular accident matter, is yours. If you are comfortable with the law firm, or lawyer, and you have a retainer arrangement that is satisfactory to you, that is your call.

I have not had sufficient communication with people who hired one of the lawyers or firms who advertise on television to be able to express an opinion about the quality of their work.  My experience is that often, a direct recommendation from a friend or family member, or an attorney who handles other kinds of work, is particularly helpful to find a solid attorney or firm.

Bottom line, there are questions you can ask that can help you make a decision about whether to hire an attorney or law firm. These include: (a) the experience level of who will be working your case, (b) just who will be working it (a lawyer or a paralegal for instance?), (c) what is the percentage the lawyer is seeking as part of the retainer arrangement, (d) who is paying the out-of-pocket costs and roughly how much will those be, and (e) will you be able to reach the person handling your file without much trouble? In sum, do your due diligence.

Online self-help link

The California Courts have self-help centers online that provide resources to people without a lawyer. You can seek information over the phone, in person or online at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.

Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for more than 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.