Legal AI · general AI chat · referral portal and law firm compared.
We are not a rival to lawyers — we bring you to them faster and better prepared.
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Anyone with a legal question today usually chooses between four routes: a general AI chat, a specialized legal AI, a referral portal or a law firm directly. All have their place — but they differ in what you actually hold in your hands at the end.
The overview below sets these routes side by side. We are not a rival to lawyers: our aim is to bring you to them faster and better prepared — and to tell you honestly when going straight to a law firm is the right choice.
| Criterion | General AI chat (typical) | Referral portal (typical) | Traditional lawyer | Smart Legal Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billing | Free or subscription (price per provider) | Inquiries often free, engagement by quote | Fee by agreement or statutory fee schedule | Triage free of charge; further actions in credits, price visible in advance |
| Binding effect | No legal advice; the result is information | Engagement binding, portal only refers | Fully binding (mandate, liability) | Clear labeling: AI help; lawyer handover binding |
| Privacy / hosting | Depends on provider and plan; check processing location and training use | Depends on the portal's terms | Client privilege, professional secrecy | EU hosting, no AI training with your data, access separated per account |
| Depth in law | General knowledge; you specify country and area of law | Depends on the referred firm | High — by specialization | Contract-type playbooks by country (DE/AT/CH) |
| Time to result | Minutes | Depends on portal and firm | Depends on workload and scope | Minutes (analysis) + one-click lawyer handover |
| Escalation to lawyer | Not part of the feature set | Core business of the portal | — | Seamless: matter + analyses + versions handed over |
| Traceability | Sources and logging depend on the product | Lies with the law firm | Lawyer-written, reasoned | Redline diff, audit log, compliance ZIP |
| Whole matter, not a single document | One conversation; you save lasting results yourself | Only once a mandate is accepted | Full case file, full depth | Full review: timeline, evidence, report |
| Your own letter before sending | Drafts on request; a checklist per document type is typically not included | Review only within an engagement | Review and sign-off | Pre-send review, checklist per document type |
| Voice call | Voice feature depends on the product, without case knowledge | Depends on the portal | Phone appointment by arrangement | AI voice call, knows your matter |
| Where the sources come from | Training knowledge; citations depend on the product | Depends on the referred firm | Commentary literature, databases, own experience | Own citation network of statutes and decisions |
The columns describe typical properties of each category, not individual products or law firms. Features, prices and fees differ and change; check each row in the individual case. For Smart Legal Pro we only name features that exist in the product. As of: October 2026.
Example
What AI-assisted pre-check looks like
- highCease-and-desist declaration too broad“…undertakes to refrain from any comparable statements…”§ 339 BGB · certainty requirement
- mediumFlat contractual penalty EUR 5,100“…contractual penalty of EUR 5,100.00 for each breach…”§ 343 BGB · reduction possible
- lowVery tight deadline“…no later than 5 business days after receipt of this letter…”Receipt § 130 BGB
- Limitation defense applies from 31 Dec.
- Cease-and-desist declaration too broad (§ 339 BGB)
- Active standing not evidenced
- Other side's evidence complete
- Dispute value favors quick settlement
Scenarios
Scenarios compared
How the routes differ in typical situations.
Scenario 1 — Fine notice (EUR 150)
Text on request; you check deadline, form and the link to measurement data yourself.
Marketplace request and callback; flat fee depending on the provider.
Triage in 60s, objection draft for … (… credits), deadline tracked automatically.
Scenario 2 — NDA for a freelance project
Standard text; you specify and check the legal system, form of address and data protection clause yourself.
A lawyer drafts from zero; fee by agreement.
German template as a starting point, letterhead from your profile, … (30 credits), lawyer handover optional.
Scenario 3 — Payment order (Mahnbescheid)
You check formal details such as the case reference and court address yourself.
Engagement by agreement; fee by agreement or under the RVG.
Structured draft + objection letter, deadline reminder, handover prepared.
Scenario 4 — You're sued, or you sue yourself
Court forms, deadline control and the statement of defense are up to you.
Engagement for the proceedings; fee by agreement or under the RVG.
Claim check, defense drafted court-ready with citation checks, a deadline calendar, and a moot-court pass against the other side's arguments.
All prices incl. VAT where applicable. See terms and cancellation policy.
Decision guide
When do you really need a lawyer?
Our triage is upfront — sometimes the direct route is enough.
Self-service with SmartLegalPro
Routine NDAs, standard objections, fine notices below EUR 500, deadline tracking, document storage.
AI + lawyer review
Custom contracts, supplier agreements, IT contracts, anything that affects multi-year obligations.
Direct to lawyer
Criminal law, very short deadlines, high amounts in dispute, urgent applications, a threatened driving ban.
Try the triage now — free
Structured workflows from the question to the handover.
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General AI chat or legal AI?
