Legal · Effective April 2026
AI transparency
This site has an AI chat assistant. This page says what it is, what it is not, and how to reach a lawyer instead.
The short answer
Is the chat assistant on this website a lawyer?
No. The chat assistant on this website is an informational AI chatbot, not an attorney. It does not give legal advice, and chatting with it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Chicago Surgical Error Lawyers. An attorney-client relationship begins only after you sign a written retainer agreement with the firm.
What the chat assistant is
This website has an AI chat assistant: the bar labeled “Ask our team about your case” at the bottom of the screen. It is an informational tool that helps visitors understand surgical errors and medical malpractice claims in general terms, what we do at Chicago Surgical Error Lawyers, and how to contact us.
The assistant is powered by a large language model from Anthropic (the Claude family), hosted on Amazon Web Services Bedrock. The firm controls the assistant’s instructions, its tone, and what firm-specific information it can reference. The underlying AI model is not trained on your conversations with it.
What the chat assistant is not
- It is not a lawyer. It cannot give legal advice, evaluate the merits of your case, or predict outcomes.
- It is not a retainer. Chatting with it does not hire the firm. A conversation with the bot, however detailed, does not obligate the firm to represent you, and does not obligate you to hire us.
- It is not privileged. Because no attorney-client relationship exists during chat, what you share with the bot is not protected by attorney-client privilege.
- It is not a substitute for a consultation. Real case facts deserve a real conversation with a real attorney.
When the attorney-client relationship begins
Speaking with our firm by chat, by form or by phone is the first step, not the last. The attorney-client relationship, and the protections of attorney-client privilege, begin only when you and the firm sign a written retainer agreement.
Until then, you are a prospective client. We take confidentiality seriously at every stage, but the formal privilege that protects written and oral communications between clients and their attorneys begins only after retention is complete.
Why we are disclosing this
AI assistants on law-firm websites are new, and visitors reasonably want to know what they are talking to, what it can do, and what protections apply. We would rather over-disclose than leave anyone confused about where the line is between an informational AI chat and a conversation with your lawyer.
How to reach a real attorney
Call 312.854.7494 at any time, or use the contact form. The review is free. You are under no obligation to hire the firm after speaking with us.
If you are facing an emergency, call 911 first. For time-sensitive matters, such as a recent death in the family or an approaching filing deadline, contact the firm directly. Illinois limits the time to bring a malpractice claim, and a health professional has to review the records and report in writing for a case to go forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the chat assistant a lawyer?
No. The chat assistant is an AI chatbot, not an attorney. It cannot and does not provide legal advice. Any information it shares is general in nature and should not be relied on for decisions about your case.
Does chatting create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Using the chat assistant, submitting a contact form, or calling our office does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship with Chicago Surgical Error Lawyers. That relationship, and the protections that come with it, begins only after you and the firm sign a written retainer agreement.
Is my conversation with the chat assistant confidential or privileged?
No. Because no attorney-client relationship exists during chat, conversations with the AI assistant are not protected by attorney-client privilege. Treat the chat the same as any informational website form: do not share details you would not be comfortable sharing outside a privileged relationship.
What can the chat assistant actually do?
The assistant answers general questions about surgical errors and medical malpractice claims, our practice, contact information, and what to expect from a consultation. It routes urgent situations to the firm, and to 911 when safety is at risk. It cannot evaluate your case, tell you who is liable, quote a case value, or promise an outcome.
What AI powers the chat assistant?
The chat assistant is powered by a large language model from Anthropic (the Claude family of models), hosted on Amazon Web Services Bedrock. The firm controls the assistant’s instructions and what information it has access to; the underlying model is not trained on your conversations.
How do I speak with a human attorney?
Call 312.854.7494 or submit the form on our Contact page. The review is free, and you are under no obligation to hire the firm after speaking with us.