Turning a Mistake into a Mission: Lawyer Fired for Using ChatGPT Now Building an Ethical AI Law Firm

Feb 3, 2026

Zach Crabill, founder of Available Law and an attorney focused on ethical AI in legal practice, rebuilt his career after a high‑profile AI mishap. He discusses the courtroom incident, the fallout and mental‑health toll, and the epiphany that led him to create an ethical, tech‑forward firm focused on access to justice and practical services for small businesses.

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ANECDOTE

Filing With Fabricated AI Citations

Zach recounts how he used ChatGPT to find case law, trusted the results, and filed a motion containing fabricated citations.
He discovered the hallucinations only while preparing for the hearing and then disclosed everything in an affidavit.

ADVICE

Pause Before Responding In Court

Take a deliberate pause under stress before speaking in court to avoid reactive statements.
Count to ten or breathe to let higher-level thinking kick in and improve responses.

ANECDOTE

90 Days Out Sparked A Business Idea

The suspension forced Zach into a 90-day period where he became a stay-at-home dad while his wife returned to nursing night shifts.
That quiet period led to his epiphany and the founding of Available Law.

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This episode is about turning a mistake into a mission.I interview Zach Crabill, founder of Available Law. He was law's canary in the AI coal mine. He famously faced firing and bar suspension in 2023 after ChatGPT cited nonexistent cases in a brief. Zach shares his personal and professional journey through immense adversity, discussing how he overcame challenges and founded a law firm focused on the ethical use of technology. The conversation sheds light on the stress and mental health issues within the legal profession and aims to inspire resilience and innovative thinking, especially among young attorneys. Zach opens up about his personal losses, professional struggles, and the epiphany that led to his innovative use of AI for increased access to justice.00:00 Introduction to the Episode00:04 Meet Zach Crabill: The Man Behind the Headlines00:39 The Real Story: Resilience and Character02:41 Zach's Journey: Personal and Professional Challenges06:15 The AI Incident: A Turning Point13:27 Facing the Consequences18:44 Facing Challenges: A Personal Story19:59 Epiphany and the Birth of Available Law21:08 Leveraging Technology for Justice21:55 Building a Business and Overcoming Obstacles28:46 The Importance of Mentorship and Mental Health31:36 Final Thoughts and Encouragement---Present by Practist. Modern, easy, affordable law practice management software. https://practist.io/---📚Free (and good!) e-book: How to Start and Scale a Law Firm. Download here: https://marklyda.kit.com---#legaltech #younglawyers #lawfirmowner---Take our course for less than the cost of 1 hour of attorney time:👉How to Represent Yourself in Court Without an Attorney🔗Available at https://lydagroup.com/courses.---Connect with Lyda Law Firmhttps://www.lydagroup.com/---All videos are for educational and entertainment purposes only. This is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. Every case is different. Consult a licensed professional in your state. Mark Lyda is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Washington. Viewing this channel or its content does not create an attorney-client relationship with Lyda Law Firm or any of its lawyers or affiliates. Mark Lyda is CEO and a shareholder of Practist, Inc. and therefore has a financial interest in it. Nothing stated on this channel should imply any endorsement by the Air Force. The statements on this channel are personal views only. Statements made by guests are not necessarily the views of the channel.