Considerations in Choosing an AI Case Preparation & Legal Drafting Platform for Immigration Attorneys

After practicing immigration law for almost 9 years, I recently made a leap into the legal tech space by joining CaseBlink. I saw firsthand how much time, precision, and pressure this field demands—and how technology, when applied thoughtfully, can make a real difference. Having personally researched AI providers for immigration law firms before joining CaseBlink, these are some of the factors I considered. 

If you're an immigration attorney exploring case prep or drafting platforms powered by AI, the options can feel overwhelming. Here's what you should be thinking about before you commit—because the stakes (your cases, your clients, your reputation) are far too high to leave this to chance.

1. Security: Non-Negotiable

Immigration work is filled with sensitive client data—passport details, immigration history, addresses, dates of entry, financial documents, even asylum narratives. Any platform you consider must treat data security as a first principle, not an afterthought.

Ask questions like:

• Is the platform SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified?
• Does the platform train itself using your client data? 
• Does the platform have a Zero Data Retention policy?
• Do other users have access to your templates?

Anything less than enterprise-grade security should be a dealbreaker.

2. Customer Support: Because Immigration Timelines Can’t Wait

Tech that’s designed for lawyers should come with legal-grade support. That means live support, fast response times, and a customer success team who actually understand how immigration cases work. At CaseBlink, our legal team is always on staff to answer your questions. You shouldn’t have to waste time explaining what an RFE is. You are also choosing a company that you will have a long-term business relationship with, so it’s worth choosing individuals who are pleasant to work with, ethical and professional, and trustworthy.

Look for:

• Onboarding help and training for your team
• In-app chat or direct support lines
• Customer support that understands unique immigration needs

Strong customer service becomes especially valuable during deadlines, audits, or when something isn’t working as expected.

3. Traceability: Know Where AI Gets Its Information

One of the biggest concerns attorneys have with AI tools is: Where is this answer coming from? How do I know if it’s accurate? And these are fair questions. You need a system that gives you traceability—the ability to understand the source where the system pulls the information from and the ability to verify that the information is accurate.  

Look for platforms that:

• Cite to specific exhibits and reference specific websites or other outside sources so you can quickly and easily check that the information is correctly sourced from the evidence 
• Allow you to customize and edit outputs
• Avoid using any platform that doesn’t cite to exhibits, websites or outside sources as there is no way to check if the information is correct

AI that’s a mystery isn’t a solution—it’s a liability.

4. Price: Not Just a Cost, But a Value Assessment

There’s a wide range of pricing models out there—subscription, per-user, per-case, or usage-based. Some platforms might seem expensive, but if they save you 10+ hours per week, allow staff to do more, and reduce mistakes, they may more than pay for themselves.

Ask:

• How does pricing scale with my firm?
• Are there additional fees I should be aware of (e.g., for support or upgrades)?
• Do I have to pay per user?
• Do I need to purchase features I won’t use?

Choose a product that fits your current budget but can scale as you grow.

5. Case Types: Ensure the Product Matches Your Practice Areas

Many platforms encompass certain case types—employment-based filings, humanitarian relief, family petitions, etc – and some are more limited than others. Be sure to demo products that actually support your work.

• Do they support NIW or O-1 workflows?
• Can it generate EB-1 expert letters and exhibit lists?
• What about niche areas like investor visas or waivers?

Make sure to choose a product that has workflows tailored to your main case types and needs. 

Final Thoughts

Choosing an AI legal tool isn’t just a tech decision—it’s a practice strategy. As someone who’s lived on both sides of the equation—as a practicing attorney and now inside a tech company—I can tell you that the best results come from tools that were built through a combination of deep AI and engineering experts working in conjunction with attorneys, not just building tools for them.

Ask the hard questions. Choose wisely. And remember: the tool you pick should feel like an extension of your team—not a risk to manage.

If you're curious about how these considerations play out in real tools or want to see a demo that’s truly tailored to immigration law, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help.