Legal tech is getting a much-needed sanity check with the launch of CiteProof, a new tool designed to catch fabricated citations in legal briefs. As AI drafting assistants become standard in law firms, the risk of hallucinated case law has moved from a niche annoyance to a critical compliance issue. CiteProof addresses this by checking every citation in a document against public court records, specifically targeting the errors introduced by generative AI.

Deterministic Verification, Not AI Guesswork

Unlike many competitors that layer AI on top of AI, CiteProof uses a deterministic approach for its core verification. The tool extracts citations and quoted passages from documents in formats like .docx or .pdf, then resolves them against CourtListener. The platform explicitly states that no AI model ever sees the user's brief during this process. This architecture ensures that the verification logic is transparent and reproducible, a crucial feature for developers and attorneys who need to trust the output without a black box.

Integration With Existing Legal Workflows

The tool is built to fit into existing legal infrastructure rather than replace it. It offers a Word add-in for verification without leaving the editor, and integrations with major practice management software like Clio, MyCase, and Smokeball. For developers and larger firms, an API v1 allows for programmatic checks. The pricing model reflects this utility: existence and identity checks are free, while quote verification and downloadable Verification Records cost $49 for one brief or $199 for five.

Privacy and Performance Metrics

Privacy is a central pillar of the CiteProof design. The service processes data on Railway in US West (California), with TLS termination at the provider. Only citation strings are sent to CourtListener for resolution; the full brief text and quotes are not shared with third parties. For paid checks, findings are stored for 90 days, while free checks store only counts and timestamps. In performance tests conducted in October 2026, the tool reported zero false cleans on 17 bad holdout items, demonstrating its ability to catch subtle errors like swapped case names or altered quotes.

Key Takeaways

  • CiteProof uses deterministic checks against CourtListener, avoiding AI models for verification to ensure transparency.
  • The tool integrates with Word, Clio, MyCase, and Smokeball, with an API for programmatic access.
  • Pricing is tiered: free for basic existence checks, $49 per brief for detailed quote verification.
  • Privacy-focused design ensures briefs are not stored or shared with third parties beyond citation resolution.

The Bottom Line

CiteProof fills a critical gap by offering a fast, privacy-first pre-filing gate that complements rather than replaces traditional citators like Shepard's or KeyCite. For solo and small-firm litigators relying on AI drafts, it provides an essential, low-friction safety net against hallucinated authority.