AI-driven self-representation lawsuits without lawyers surge, increasing the burden on courts

A MIT and USC study found U.S. federal civil pro se filings rose from about 11% to roughly 17% in fiscal 2025.

AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude are helping more people file lawsuits without lawyers.

The filings often look polished but contain weak or incomplete claims, adding heavy review and processing work for courts.

Researchers say AI is lowering the barrier to legal action while exposing new administrative strain on the justice system.