June 1, 2026 (in 3 days): New York: 22 NYCRR Part 161 takes effect, system-wide AI policy for all UCS courts →

AI Verification Log Template

A printable per-matter verification log mapped to ABA Formal Opinion 512 and the verification protocol in our Policy Template, Section 8.

A signed verification log is the artifact a court, a carrier, or a disciplinary investigator will ask for if AI-assisted work product is later challenged. The protocol below is a starting point, not a finished form. Have a licensed attorney in your state confirm the log captures any state-specific or judge-specific requirements before adoption.
On this page
  1. When to complete a log
  2. What to log
  3. The log template
  4. How to file the log

When to complete a log

Complete a verification log before any AI-supported document is filed, delivered to a client, or sent to opposing counsel. The log applies whether the tool was general-purpose (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot) or legal-specific (Westlaw Precision AI, Lexis+ AI, Harvey, Spellbook, CoCounsel, vLex, Paxton AI), and whether citations were generated by the tool or only summarized by it.

For court filings governed by a standing order, general order, or local rule that requires AI disclosure or certification, complete the log and the matching certification from our Court Disclosure Templates. The log stays in the matter file; the certification goes in the filing.

What to log

The log captures the eight verification dimensions the policy template requires before AI-assisted work leaves the firm:

  1. Citations. Each cite verified against a primary source.
  2. Quotations. Each quote verified against the cited authority.
  3. Holdings and procedural posture. Each cited case confirmed against the primary source.
  4. Jurisdiction. All authorities confirmed to be from the controlling jurisdiction for the issue and forum.
  5. Doctrinal reasoning. The legal test or standard applied is correctly stated and the conclusion follows from it.
  6. Bias and characterization. No selective omission, no overstatement, no omission of controlling adverse authority.
  7. Formatting and procedural rules. Captions, signatures, page limits, and judge-specific rules confirmed.
  8. Attorney sign-off. Responsible attorney signs and dates the log; tool and version identified.

The log template

The form below is the log itself. Print it, fill it in by hand or in a fillable PDF, sign, and file with the matter.

AI VERIFICATION LOG

Matter: ____________________________________________

Matter number: ____________________________

Document or filing: ___________________________________

Date verified: ____________________________

AI tool used: ____________________________________

Tool version: ____________________________

Use case (drafting / research / summarization / analysis / other): ___________________________

Information classification (Public / Internal / Confidential / Highly Sensitive): ____________________

Tier of approved tool used (1 / 2): _____

Verification steps completed:

  • Citations independently verified against primary source
  • Quotations independently verified against cited authority
  • Holdings, reasoning, and procedural posture confirmed against primary source
  • Cited authorities are from the controlling jurisdiction
  • Doctrinal test or standard correctly stated; conclusion follows
  • Cited authorities reviewed for fair characterization (no omission of controlling adverse authority)
  • Formatting and procedural rules confirmed against operative local and chambers rules
  • Client consent obtained (if required under Section 6 of the AI Use Policy) and documented in matter file

Issues identified during verification:

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Resolution:

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Verified by responsible attorney:

Signature: ____________________________________________

Print name: ____________________________________________

Date: ____________________________

How to file the log

  1. File with the matter. The signed log is retained in the matter file alongside the document it verifies. Include the date, the document name, and the AI tool and version in the file path or document title for retrievability.
  2. Mirror to the firm AI usage register, if maintained. Some firms maintain a firm-wide AI usage register (a single log of who used what tool on what matter). The verification log is the per-document artifact; the register is the cross-matter index. Both reference the same matter and date.
  3. Retain through the applicable malpractice tail. Verification logs are responsive to a malpractice claim or a sanctions inquiry years after the matter closes. Retain at least as long as the matter file.
  4. Cross-link to court certifications, if any. If the matter required an AI certification on the filing itself (under a standing order, general order, or local rule), reference the certification language in the log so the on-the-record statement and the internal verification are visibly tied.

Related on this site

Court orders

Sanctions cases

Other resources

Log mapped to Policy Template Section 8 and ABA Formal Opinion 512 (July 2024). Last verified 2026-04-29.