Private AI

For law offices

Like ChatGPT for your law office, but client files never leave it.

Your staff ask in plain English: what a client paid, who handles billing, what a client's file says. It answers from your firm's own files and names the file it used. Nothing goes to ChatGPT or any other company.

$3,000 to set up, plus one office computer if you need it (about $1,150 to $2,200). Half to start, which books your setup date. The other half when it's working the way your office wants.

Get it set up: $1,500 to start Book a 20-minute call

Set up by Raj Lakhani, a software developer in Hermosa Beach. Prefer email? rajanlakhani@gmail.com See every test answer.

Real answers from my test on a made-up law firm

What retainer did Grace Okafor pay, in dollars?

Grace Okafor paid the contested-custody retainer, which is $12,000.

Files it used: Okafor intake notes, fee schedule

Who do I ask about a late invoice, and when does interest start?

Contact Rosa Martinez (office manager and billing) at extension 100. Interest begins once the balance is more than 60 days past due and accrues at 1% per month.

Files it used: staff directory, fee schedule

The office, people and files are made up. I shortened the answers slightly.

For example

What your staff could ask it

It answers from whatever files your staff put on it. Questions like these:

  • "What fee did we agree to with the Nguyens, and was it flat or hourly?"
  • "Who in the office handles billing questions?"
  • "Does the Patel will name a backup executor?"

Why private matters

Client information never reaches an AI company

The American Bar Association (Formal Opinion 512, 2024) says a lawyer needs the client's informed consent before typing client information into an AI tool that may learn from what is typed into it. ABA

The State Bar of California also tells lawyers to check how any AI tool stores and shares client data, and says general marketing promises are not enough. State Bar of California

When the AI runs on a computer in your office, no AI company ever receives your clients' information.

The difference

Where do your files go?

With ChatGPT, whatever your staff type travels over the internet to another company's computers. With a private AI, your files, questions and answers stay on one computer in your office.

Cloud AI ChatGPT and similar

YOUR OFFICE client files AI company's computers

Files and questions leave your office.

Private AI Set up in your office

YOUR OFFICE client files AI office computer your staff Nothing goes out to the internet

Files, questions and answers stay on one computer in your office.

How it works

Four steps, all inside your office

  1. One computer in your office

    I set up the AI on one desktop computer that stays in your office. Your staff copy your files onto it, so I never need to see them.

  2. Your staff ask

    Each person signs in to a chat window on their own computer and types a question, the same way they would use ChatGPT. Only people you add can sign in.

  3. It answers from your files

    The AI on the office computer finds the answer in your files, writes it in plain English, and names the files it used. It does not use the internet.

  4. A person checks

    Anyone can open the named file and confirm the answer before it goes to a client.

The test

Every test answer, including the wrong one

I made up a small family law firm with five files: a fee schedule, office policies, notes on two clients and a staff directory. Then I asked 8 questions a paralegal might ask, each with one right answer, and ran the set 3 times. I saved every word of one run, so that is the run below: all 8 answers, shortened slightly.

7 of 8right in the run below. The wrong one is marked in red.
About 4 secondsfor a typical answer on my test computer
Never guessedWhen the files did not have the answer, it said so.

  1. How much does a first consultation cost, and does it get credited?

    The first consultation costs $250 for a 60-minute session. It is credited toward the retainer if the client signs the engagement within 14 days.

    Right. File: fee schedule.

  2. What is Dana's hourly rate on the Brennan matter versus a matter opened today?

    Dana's partner rate is $495 per hour effective March 1, 2026, but the previous rate of $450 per hour applies to matters opened before that date. The Brennan matter opened on February 10, 2026, so Dana would bill at $450 per hour for that case. A matter opened today would use the current rate of $495 per hour.

    Right. Files: fee schedule, Brennan intake notes.

  3. Who is handling the Okafor case and when is mediation?

    The Okafor matter is assigned to Associate Attorney Priya Raman, and the mediation is scheduled for June 3, 2026.

    Right. File: Okafor intake notes.

  4. Can I text Grace Okafor an update on her case?

    No. According to the firm's client communication policy, a case should never be discussed by text message. It must be moved to email or a phone call instead.

    Right. File: office policies.

  5. Who do I ask about a late invoice, and when does interest start?

    Contact Rosa Martinez (office manager and billing) at extension 100. Interest on overdue balances begins once the balance is more than 60 days past due and accrues at 1% per month.

    Right. Files: staff directory, fee schedule.

  6. What retainer did Grace Okafor pay, in dollars?

    Grace Okafor paid the contested-custody retainer, which is $12,000.

    Right. Files: Okafor intake notes, fee schedule.

  7. What is the firm's malpractice insurance carrier?

    I'm sorry, but the documents provided do not contain any information about the firm's malpractice insurance carrier.

    Right. The files do not say, and it did not guess.

  8. How long do we keep the Okafor file after it closes?

    For the Okafor matter the youngest child is Ada, who is currently 9 years old. 21 minus 9 is 12 years. So, once the Okafor file closes, we will keep it for 12 years.

    Wrong. Files: office policies, Okafor intake notes.

    The youngest child is Tobi, age 6, so the right answer is about 15 years. It found the right rule and the right file, then picked the wrong child. This is why a person should always check dates and deadlines.

What it costs

One setup price. Monthly upkeep is optional.

To startBooks your setup date.
$1,500
When it's workingThe way your office wants it.
$1,500
Monthly upkeep, if you want itI update the AI and re-test it so it stays right. Your staff add new files themselves, and I show them how.
$200/mo

You also need one computer for it, about $1,150 to $2,200 in stores, unless you already have one that is fast enough. I tell you exactly which one to buy.

You pay the second half only when it's working.

It has to work the way your office wants, at a speed your staff are happy with. I keep tuning it until it does, and you pay nothing more until then.

Raj Lakhani

Get it set up: $1,500 to start Book a 20-minute call

The deposit is non-refundable once your setup date is booked.

After you pay

What happens next

  1. Right away
    You get a receipt by email.

    Within one business day, I email you to set up a short call.

  2. That week
    A 20-minute call.

    We pick the setup day and which folders go on it. If you need a computer, I tell you exactly which one to buy.

  3. Setup day
    I set it up on your office computer.

    Your staff copy the files onto it, so I never need to see them.

  4. Try-out day
    We try it together.

    Your staff ask it real questions while I watch. When it's working the way you want, I send the second $1,500 invoice and walk your staff through it. If something is off, I fix it and we try again.

Questions

Common questions

Does it look up the law?

No. It only knows your firm's own files, and when the answer is not in them, it says so.

Does an AI company ever see client information?

No. The AI runs on a computer in your office and does not use the internet. Your staff copy the files onto it, so I never need to see them either.

Why did it get one answer wrong?

It had to work out a date and picked the wrong child. It found the right rule and the right file. That is why a person always checks dates and deadlines.

Isn't this just ChatGPT?

It works the same way: you type a question and get an answer. Two things differ. It runs on a computer you own, so nothing you type leaves. And it answers from your own files and names the file, instead of from the internet. When the answer is not in your files, it says so.

What computer do I need?

One store-bought computer, about $1,150 to $2,200: a desktop with a strong graphics card, or a Mac mini with plenty of memory. I tell you exactly which one to buy, or check whether one you have is fast enough.

Other kinds of offices

Made for your kind of office

Want a private AI in your law office?

Start the setup today, or book a call first. I'm Raj Lakhani, a software developer in Hermosa Beach, and I reply to every email myself.

Get it set up: $1,500 to start Book a 20-minute call