🎙️ Ep. #116: Free Versus Paid Legal AI: Conversation with DC Court of Appeals Head Law Librarian Laura Moorer

Laura Moorer, the Law Librarian for the DC Court of Appeals, brings over two decades of experience in legal research, including nearly 14 years with the Public Defender Service for DC. In this conversation, Laura shares her top three tips for crafting precise prompts when using generative AI, emphasizing clarity, specificity, and structure. She also offers insights on how traditional legal research methods—like those used with LexisNexis and Westlaw—can enhance AI-driven inquiries. Finally, Laura offers practical strategies for utilizing generative AI to help lawyers identify and locate physical legal resources, thereby bridging the gap between digital tools and tangible materials.

Join Laura and me as we discuss the following three questions and more!

• What are your top three tips when it comes to precise prompt engineering, your generative AI inquiries?
• What are your top three tips or tricks when it comes to using old-school prompts like those from the days of LexisNexis and Westlaw in your generative AI inquiries?
• What are your top three tips or tricks using generative AI to help lawyers pinpoint actual physical resources?

In our conversation, we cover the following:

[00:40] Laura's Current Tech Setup

[03:27] Top 3 Tips for Crafting Precise Prompts in Generative AI

[13:44] Bringing Old-School Legal Research Tactics to Generative AI Prompting

[20:42] Using Generative AI to Help Lawyers Locate Physical Legal Resources

[24:38] Contact Information

Resources:

Connect with Laura:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laura-moorer
• Email: lmoorer@dcappeals.gov
• Instagram: instagram.com/dccalibby/

Mentioned in the episode:

• Libby Visits the DC Courts
• 🔗 https://perma.cc/HXA9-NR8B is an archive of http://intranet.gov/attachment/782039870000/1800539/Libby%20visits%20the%20DC%20Courts%20Story%20BookRS.pdf?type=1 from Wednesday 02, July 2025

Software & Cloud Services mentioned in the conversation:

• AT&T Internet: att.com/internet/
• Bloomberg Law: pro.bloomberglaw.com/
• Fastcase: fastcase.com/
• Internet Archive: archive.org/
• LexisNexis: lexisnexis.com/en-us
• Spectrum Internet: spectrum.com/internet
• vLex: vlex.com/
• Westlaw: legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/westlaw
• WorldCat: worldcat.org/