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Asking Questions

Get the most out of Second Seat by learning how to ask effective questions.

Types of Questions​

  • "What is the standard for suppressing evidence obtained during a traffic stop in NY?"
  • "Find cases where Miranda warnings were found inadequate"
  • "Under California law, what are the requirements for a Pitchess motion?"

Case Strategy​

  • "What defenses are available for a client charged with burglary in the second degree?"
  • "How have courts ruled on self-defense claims in domestic violence cases?"

Procedural Questions​

  • "What are the time limits for filing a motion to suppress in NY?"
  • "What discovery materials must the prosecution provide under CPL 245?"

Deep Research​

For comprehensive, multi-source research, just ask for it:

  • "Give me a comprehensive overview of warrantless car search law in NY"
  • "Research the current state of Romero motions in California"
  • "I need a full analysis of eyewitness identification challenges"

Second Seat will automatically plan search strategies, search multiple case law databases, analyze results, and produce a structured research memo.

Action Requests​

Ask Second Seat to take actions directly in the conversation:

  • "Create a case called People v. Johnson with docket number 2024-CR-5678"
  • "Link this conversation to the Johnson case"
  • "Search my documents for references to the traffic stop"
  • "What cases do I have that are currently active?"

See Tools & Actions for the full list of available actions.

Best Practices​

  1. Be specific — include relevant facts and context
  2. One topic at a time — focus each question on a single issue
  3. Follow up — ask clarifying questions to dig deeper
  4. Review citations — always verify the cases cited in responses
  5. Mention jurisdiction — if your question involves a state other than your default, mention it (e.g., "under California law...")
  6. Link to a case — conversations linked to a case give Second Seat full context and build persistent knowledge