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πŸ”Scenario Analysis

How to use AI-powered legal analysis for your situations

What is Scenario Analysis?

Scenario Analysis lets you describe a situation in plain English and get AI-powered legal analysis with relevant case law. It's designed for when you're not sure what to search for, or when you need to understand how the law applies to a specific set of facts.

The AI extracts citations from legal databases, verifies them, and provides analysis tailored to your jurisdiction.

How to Run an Analysis

01
Go to Analyze

Click "Analyze" in the sidebar

02
Describe your scenario

Type your situation in the text box (minimum 50 characters)

03
Check your jurisdiction

The state dropdown shows your default. Click the gear icon to change state or circuit for this search.

04
Click the search button

The button activates once you've entered at least 50 characters

05
Wait for results

The system extracts citations, verifies cases, and generates analysis

Changing Jurisdiction

Your default state and circuit come from your account settings. If you need to analyze a scenario for a different jurisdiction, click the gear icon next to the state name to change it for that specific search.

Using Dictation

Click the microphone button to speak your scenario instead of typing. This is useful when you're in the field or prefer speaking over typing.

Browser Support

Dictation works on Chrome, Edge, and Safari. It is not supported on Firefox.

How to Dictate

01

Click the microphone icon in the text box

02

Grant microphone permission if prompted (first time only)

03

Start speaking when you see "Listening..."

04

Click the button again or pause to stop recording

05

Review and edit the transcription before submitting

Dictation Tips

β€’ Speak clearly at a normal pace

β€’ Say "period", "comma", or "question mark" to add punctuation

β€’ Find a quiet environment for best results

β€’ Always review the transcription before submitting

Understanding Your Results

After you submit a scenario, you'll see several components on the results screen.

Your Scenario

Displayed in a blue bubble at the top so you can reference what you asked.

Extracting Citations

Shows the cases being pulled from the analysis. Click to expand and see the full list.

Verifying Cases

Each case is verified against the database. Green checkmarks mean the case is verified and clickable. Yellow warnings mean the case couldn't be verifiedβ€”use with caution.

LawCite Analysis

The AI-generated legal analysis. Includes short answer, legal framework, controlling case law, and practical considerations. Case names are clickable links.

Offense Elements (when applicable)

If your scenario involves a specific offense, the analysis may include the statutory elements the State must prove, with citations to the relevant penal code sections.

About Unverified Cases

Cases marked with yellow warnings couldn't be verified in our database. This doesn't mean they're wrong, but you should independently verify them before relying on them. Our legal team is automatically notified to investigate and add unverified cases.

Clicking on Cases

Case names in the analysis are clickable. What happens when you click depends on whether the case is verified.

Verified Cases (Green)

Opens the full case breakdown modal with summary, key takeaways, practical guidance, holdings, and more. You can pin verified cases from here.

Unverified Cases (Yellow)

These cases aren't in our database yet. Use caution and verify independently before citing in official documents.

Asking Follow-Up Questions

At the bottom of every analysis, there's a follow-up box. Use this to ask clarifying questions or explore related issues without starting a new search.

Good Follow-Up Questions

β†’"What if the suspect had consented to the search?"
β†’"Does this change if it happened in a home instead of a vehicle?"
β†’"What additional facts would strengthen probable cause?"
β†’"Are there any Texas-specific cases on this issue?"
β†’"What should I document in my report?"

Tip

Use Shift+Enter to add a new line in the follow-up box. Press Enter or click the send button to submit your question.

Writing Effective Scenarios

The quality of your analysis depends on how you describe your scenario. More detail leads to better, more specific analysis.

Include These Details

β†’
What happened:The sequence of events
β†’
When:Time of day, during what activity (traffic stop, foot patrol, etc.)
β†’
Where:Public street, private residence, business, vehicle, etc.
β†’
Who:Driver, passenger, pedestrian, homeowner, etc.
β†’
Your observations:What you saw, heard, or smelled
β†’
Actions taken:What you or other officers did
β†’
Responses:Did the person consent? Resist? Flee? Make statements?
β†’
Your question:What specific legal issue you need answered
βœ“

Good Example

"I pulled over a vehicle for speeding at 2 AM. The driver appeared extremely nervous, avoided eye contact, and his hands were shaking. When I asked him to step out of the vehicle, I noticed a strong odor of marijuana. I asked if I could search the vehicle, and he said no. Can I search anyway based on the marijuana odor?"

βœ—

Too Vague

"Can I search a car if I smell marijuana?"

Missing context about the stop, driver behavior, location, and specific circumstances.

Example Scenarios

Consent Search Question

During a traffic stop, I asked the driver if I could search his vehicle. He said "I guess so" and shrugged. I found drugs in the center console. Is this a valid consent search, or was the consent too ambiguous?

Terry Stop

At 3 AM, I saw a person walking quickly away from a closed business while looking over their shoulder repeatedly. When I attempted to talk to them, they immediately turned and walked the other direction. I stopped them to investigate. Did I have reasonable suspicion for this Terry stop?

Use of Force

I attempted to arrest a suspect for an outstanding warrant. When I tried to handcuff him, he pulled away and started to run. I grabbed his arm and we both fell to the ground. I used a controlled takedown and held him down while applying handcuffs. He suffered scrapes from the fall. Was my use of force reasonable?

Miranda / Custody

I'm a detective re-interviewing a witness from a 3-year-old homicide. During the interview at my office (voluntary, she drove herself), she suddenly says "I need to tell you something - I was actually there when it happened." Before I can say anything, she starts describing how she helped the suspect dispose of the body. She was never Mirandized because she came in as a witness. Is any of this admissible? Should I stop her?

Tips for Better Results

β†’
Be specific:Include facts even if you think they don't matter. Small details can change legal outcomes.
β†’
Be honest:Include facts that might hurt your position. You need accurate analysis, not reassurance.
β†’
Ask a clear question:"Can I search?" or "Do I have RS?" or "Was this lawful?" helps focus the analysis.
β†’
Use follow-ups:If the initial analysis doesn't address something, ask about it in follow-up.
β†’
Click the cases:Read the full case breakdowns for verified cases. The analysis is a summary.
β†’
Check verification status:Green cases are verified. Yellow cases need independent verification.

Important Disclaimer

LawCite is a research tool, not legal advice. The AI can make mistakes. Always verify critical information and consult with your agency's legal department for official guidance. A full disclaimer is linked at the bottom of every analysis.

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