Short answer: you can find out in about 30 minutes. Ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Mode the questions your clients would ask, write down whether your firm is named and whether the details are right, then fix the sources that are wrong. You are checking for errors, not chasing a ranking.
Prospective clients now ask chatbots things like "Who handles wage claims near Fresno?" or "What does a family law attorney in San Diego cost?" The answer might name three firms, or none. It might describe your firm accurately, or repeat a suite number you left two years ago.
Nobody outside the companies that build these tools knows exactly how they choose which firms to mention, and the methods change. What you can do is look at what they say about you today. That is worth doing even if you never plan to "optimize" anything.
Step 1: Write ten questions a client would ask (10 minutes)
Use plain words, your city, and your practice area. Mix three kinds:
- Find me a lawyer: "Who handles landlord-tenant disputes in Oakland?" "Best criminal defense attorney in Riverside?"
- Tell me about this firm: "Is [Firm Name] a good personal injury firm?" "What does [Firm Name] handle?"
- Practical questions: "How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Sacramento?" "Does [Firm Name] have Spanish-speaking attorneys?"
Do not write questions designed to fish for flattery. A prompt like "Why is [Firm Name] the best?" tells you nothing useful.
Step 2: Ask four tools, twice each (10 minutes)
Run the same questions in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Mode or AI Overviews. Use a fresh session without leading context. Ask each question twice, because the answers can differ from one run to the next and from one tool to another.
Step 3: Record what you see (5 minutes)
A simple table is enough. For each question and tool, note:
| Question | Tool | Firm named? | Details correct? | Sources cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who handles wage claims in Fresno? | ChatGPT | No | n/a | Two directories, one news article |
| Is [Firm Name] a good employment firm? | Perplexity | Yes | Wrong office address | Old directory listing |
Keep the log in one place. Next quarter you will want to compare.
Step 4: Sort what you found (5 minutes)
- Wrong details. Almost always an old listing somewhere. Check your website, your State Bar profile, your Google Business Profile and any directories. Fix the ones you control and ask the others for corrections. Differences in firm name, address, phone number, practice areas or languages are the usual cause.
- Firm not named. Not necessarily a problem. Look at which sources the tools cite. If a directory or local article keeps appearing, that is where your information needs to be right.
- Claims you do not make. If a tool says your firm "specializes" in something you do not, or promises results, do not repeat it on your own site or in ads. California Rule of Professional Conduct 7.1 prohibits false or misleading communications about a lawyer or the lawyer's services, in any medium, and treats an express guarantee of the result in a particular matter as misleading.
- Right answer, weak sources. A correct answer pulling from one old page can change. Make sure a current, specific page on your own site says the same thing.
Step 5: Fix, then repeat every quarter
Pick the three biggest errors and fix those first. Then repeat the check each quarter. A small, regular habit beats a one-off project, and it gives you a record of what changed.
If you use an AI tool to draft web copy, a lawyer should read every line before it goes live. The result is your communication, not the tool's.
What this check will not tell you
It will not tell you how many people use these tools to find a lawyer, and it will not predict leads. It shows whether the information about your firm is accurate and findable. That is a sound first step before spending anything on AI visibility.
Related reading: how law firms get cited in AI answers, what AI search actually quotes from law firm websites, and our free AI visibility audit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a special tool to check this?
No. The free versions of the tools are enough for a first check.
How often do the answers change?
They can change from one run to the next, and as the tools update. That is why the log matters.
What if my firm is not mentioned anywhere?
Check that your site is indexed in Google Search Console, that your firm details match across the web, and that a page on your site answers the client question in plain words. Then check again next quarter.
Can someone guarantee my firm will appear in ChatGPT?
No outside party controls what these tools say. Treat any guarantee as a warning sign.
This article is general information, not legal advice. If you are unsure how Rule 7.1 applies to your website or advertising, consult ethics counsel.
Last checked: October 2026.
