AI dictionary for work
Persuasive authority
A source that may influence but does not necessarily bind.
What it means
Persuasive authority can help a court or lawyer think about an issue, but it does not have to be followed. Lower court decisions, foreign cases, and secondary commentary often fall here.
Why it matters at work
Persuasive sources can be useful leads, but they need clear caveats and primary-source verification.
Beginner mistake
Treating a foreign or lower-court source as if it automatically decides a South African issue.
Example prompt
Label these sources as binding, persuasive, secondary, or unknown, and explain what must be verified before relying on them.
Last updated 2026-06-16 · Reviewed for current AI tools