Legal position
Case Folder Setup — Clarity for Self-Represented Litigation
Self-help — preparing your own case with AI — is not subject to unauthorized practice of law statutes.
Three elements of §109
Korea's Attorney Act §109 requires all three elements to be met for criminal liability (penalty: up to 7 years imprisonment or up to ₩50 million fine).
- 1. Not a licensed attorney
- 2. Receiving or promising remuneration
- 3. Handling legal matters for another's case
Scenario-by-scenario analysis
| Scenario | §109 applies | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer uses AI for case analysis & drafting | ❌ No | Actor = licensed attorney |
| Law firm staff under attorney supervision | ❌ No | Legal practice (law firm business) |
| Self-help: preparing own case with AI | ❌ No | Self-help — §109 does not apply |
| Drafting documents for others free of charge | ❌ No | ② No remuneration |
| Selling AI-generated legal advice for profit | ⚠️ Possible | Non-attorney + remuneration + 3 elements all met |
| "Guaranteed win" claims + paid service | ⚠️ Possible | §109 + §109① legal consultation |
| Non-attorney impersonating a lawyer | ⚠️ Possible | §109 + Attorney Act §2 |
MeshLaw's commitments
- ✓ Operates only as a case document organizer, draft assistant, and precedent search tool.
- ✓ Not an AI lawyer — no legal advice, consultation, or counsel of any kind.
- ✓ Zero tolerance for paid legal advice, win guarantees, or credential misrepresentation.
- ✓ AI outputs are for information and drafting — not a substitute for legal counsel.