Free lesson · Skill · 6 min
The SOURCE method
Lesson 2 of 12 in AI Legal Research Foundations
The one idea
Use SOURCE every time:
- S — Situation: write what happened as facts, not arguments.
- O — Official source first: find legislation, cases, rules, or regulator guidance from trusted sources.
- U — Understand with AI: ask AI to explain the source only after you provide it.
- R — Read the authority yourself: check case, statute, paragraph, section, date, and jurisdiction.
- C — Compare and validate: ask whether the authority still stands and supports the exact claim.
- E — Escalate: take high-risk issues to a lawyer, Legal Aid, advice office, union, ombud, or regulator.
AI can help you think, organize, explain, and summarize. It cannot be your source of legal truth.
{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-16","jurisdiction":"South Africa unless stated otherwise","legal_advice":false,"requires_primary_source_verification":true,"requires_lawyer_review_for_topic_specific_claims":true}
Your win today
Turn a messy legal problem into a safe research plan.