Frequently asked questions

Sidebarlex runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11, and macOS 12 or later. You need at least 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and 100 GB of free disk space. DDR5 is the memory standard in most computers sold from 2023 onward.

Processor speed matters less than RAM type and amount. The system does not require a discrete graphics card. If you are unsure whether your machine qualifies, the hardware check page walks through it in under two minutes.

You do not need to purchase anything before trying the free version. Install it and you will know within 30 minutes whether your current machine is sufficient.

Sidebarlex protects attorney-client privilege by keeping all AI processing on your own computer. Your client data never touches a third-party server. The AI model runs locally in your office — no API call is made during normal use, no data processing agreement is required, and no third party has access to your documents.

This is structurally different from any cloud AI tool. When you upload a client file to ChatGPT, Copilot, or Harvey AI, it leaves your network. With a local setup, it does not.

For specific ethics opinion guidance in your jurisdiction, your state bar is the authority. The technical architecture here is the most defensible position currently available to a solo or small firm attorney. ABA Formal Opinion 477R addresses the cybersecurity obligations that apply to cloud-based data transmission — those obligations do not arise here because no data is transmitted.

The installer takes about 15 to 30 minutes to run on your computer. After that, the legal library and practice-area workflows are loaded in the background — this typically adds another 20 to 60 minutes depending on the size of your jurisdiction package. Most attorneys are fully running the same day they start the installation.

The initial download is several gigabytes, so a stable broadband connection helps with the first step. Your computer handles all AI processing locally after setup, with no ongoing internet connection required.

The free version is faster to set up because it includes only the base federal library. The configured version includes the complete 50-state package plus your practice area — more to download and configure, but ready for real work the same day, tested on your actual documents before setup is signed off.

Sidebarlex supports any US practice area. The configured setup includes a knowledge base built specifically for your practice area and jurisdiction. All 50 US state bar rules, federal procedural rules, and ethics opinions are pre-loaded at setup — so if you take on a client in a new state, the relevant rules are already there.

Practice areas already configured for current clients include real estate, family law, criminal defense, personal injury, small business and contracts, immigration, and employment law.

If your practice area is not on this list, it almost certainly can be added. The configuration process starts with a short questionnaire about your jurisdiction, the document types you work with most, and the specific tasks you want the AI to help with. Niche or hybrid practices are supported and have been configured successfully.

The free version installs the same way and runs entirely on your computer. It includes a base US federal legal library so you can see how the AI works with citations — ask it a question about a document, watch it quote the source. It is not configured for your specific practice area or jurisdiction, and it does not include state-level bar rules, ethics opinions, or practice area workflows.

The configured version ($799 one-time) adds the complete US legal library for all 50 states, all federal rules, and ethics opinions for your jurisdiction. It includes practice-area workflows and ready-to-use prompt templates for your specific type of work.

Before the setup is signed off, the AI is tested on three of your real documents. Both versions run entirely on your computer and your documents never leave your network. Payment for the configured version happens after you have confirmed it works on your documents.

For most attorneys, the system runs without any ongoing maintenance. There are no software subscriptions to renew, no license keys to manage, no cloud services that can expire or change their terms. The AI model and legal library are stored on your computer and continue working regardless of internet availability.

If a model update improves performance significantly, you will hear about it by email — updates are optional and you can choose when or whether to apply them. The product is designed to be self-sufficient after setup: a lawyer who never needs to contact support again after the first week is the intended outcome.

If something breaks or you have questions, email gets a response within one business day. There is no additional charge for post-setup support during the first year.

No. Sidebarlex only uses your computer's processing power when you actively send it a question. While you are drafting, reviewing documents in another application, or doing anything else on your computer, the AI is idle and uses no CPU or memory.

The 32 GB RAM minimum ensures the AI and your normal work applications — email, Word, your case management software — can run side by side without competing for resources.

Yes. Most legal documents — contracts, deposition transcripts, court filings, older case records — are scanned PDFs rather than text-native files. Sidebarlex is pre-configured to handle scanned documents out of the box.

You do not need to convert files or use any additional software. Upload a scanned PDF and ask a question about it the same way you would any other document.

No. The free version is free with no expiry date, no credit card required, and no trial period that converts to a paid plan.

The configured version is a one-time payment of $799 — no annual renewal, no subscription, no price changes. Once it is set up on your computer it continues working indefinitely regardless of any future pricing decisions.