Assault, defamation, false imprisonment, and negligence are examples of torts, the area of law that covers civil wrongs between private parties (as opposed to crimes against society). In these cases, the wrongdoer can be held legally liable and sued for damages. For some plaintiffs, hiring counsel is possible and worthwhile. But for many, the costs are prohibitive, and they're left to represent themselves as pro se litigants. Pro se litigants face a tremendous challenge navigating the civil system, turning their lived experience into legally sufficient documents, or even representing themselves in court. It's heartbreaking when people with valid claims are not even close to affording a lawyer. A mentor recently reminded me "there's justice, and then there's access to justice."
"Can I use ChatGPT to draft complaints?" Yes, and for situations like small claims or demand letters, LLMs truly can be sufficient. Earlier this year I used ChatGPT myself to draft a demand letter for a housing dispute and secured three-quarters of the relief I requested, settling before we even reached small claims court. But when it comes to more complex cases involving substantial damages or remedies, pro se litigants do need tailored legal assistance to move their cases forward effectively. Ideally they can do that without the massive overhead of case intake or full representation.
Luri.ai's Complainer tool was built and designed specifically for the civil complaint pipeline for pro se litigants. Users answer simple, guided questions about what happened, who was involved, and what outcome they seek. Specialized AI agents classify claims, calculate potential remedies, and generate a draft complaint. The key component is our vision for Complainer is connecting pro se litigants with real lawyers and trusted resources. After multiple iterations over the past 2 years, it's time to bring in lawyers to evaluate. Your feedback will shape how individuals and institutions supporting pro se litigants benefit from this tool. We want to launch to pro se litigants by early 2026. To get there, we need your expertise to answer questions like: Did Complainer classify the claims correctly? Does the draft follow the standards courts actually enforce? What sort of tips should this plaintiff know?
If you're a torts lawyer, or if you know one, we would love to connect. Early validation sessions with us look like quick discussions (15 min - 30 min long) aiming to directly impact the people who need it most. We will offer free early access for lawyers looking to help shape Complainer to be ethically and soundly built, and truly useful. Help us make justice more accessible, starting with legal complaints.
Complainer is how we plan to expand access to justice, and we need stewards of law every step of the way. Contact me at roopa@luri.ai or add me on LinkedIn to contribute, and please feel free to share and repost.
