Frequently Asked Questions

SafeAppeals is a Windows desktop workspace and AI case manager designed for workers' compensation and human-rights appeals. It combines native document editors (Word, Excel, PDF), AI chat that understands your entire case, and legal-specific tools like case timelines and file organizers—all in one application. Think of it as 'Cursor IDE for document work, not code.'

SafeAppeals is built for anyone managing complex document projects: injured workers and advocates handling legal appeals, grad students writing dissertations and theses, researchers managing literature reviews and papers, and consultants organizing client documentation. If you're drowning in PDFs and tabs, SafeAppeals is for you.

No. SafeAppeals is a research and document management tool, not a law firm. AI-generated content may contain errors or hallucinated citations. Always verify information and consult with a licensed attorney before filing legal documents.

Unlike ChatGPT, SafeAppeals understands your entire case context. It can see all your PDFs, Word docs, spreadsheets, emails, and case timeline simultaneously. You don't need to copy-paste documents or re-explain your case—the AI remembers everything in your workspace.

Absolutely! SafeAppeals is perfect for dissertations, theses, research papers, and literature reviews. Keep all your source PDFs, notes, and drafts in one workspace. The AI can help you summarize papers, find connections between sources, and draft sections. The timeline feature works great for tracking deadlines and milestones.

Yes! While SafeAppeals started with legal appeals, it works for any complex document project. Grad students use it for dissertations, researchers for grant applications, and consultants for client reports. The legal-specific extensions can be disabled in settings.

When you ask a question in chat, you can reference open files (e.g., 'summarize the PDF on the right') and the AI will read that file. The Case Info sheet (your case details, timeline, key dates) is also available to the AI. Everything stays in context across your session.

Download SafeAppeals from our website, create a case workspace (a folder for your case files), save it as a .code-workspace file, and start chatting with the AI. New users get a free trial with credits to experiment. See our Installation Guide for step-by-step instructions.

A case workspace is a folder containing all your case documents, saved as a .code-workspace file. This unlocks case-specific AI context, persistent settings, and quick-launch capabilities. See our First Steps guide for details.

Yes! Full-text search works across PDFs, Word docs, emails, and notes. Press Ctrl+Shift+F to search your entire workspace. The AI can also help you find specific information across all your documents.

Yes! Many grad students use SafeAppeals for dissertations and theses. Keep all your source PDFs, literature reviews, notes, and chapter drafts in one workspace. The AI can summarize papers, help you find themes across sources, and assist with drafting. The timeline feature is great for tracking milestones.

Import all your research papers as PDFs. Use the AI to summarize each paper, identify key themes, and find connections between sources. Ask questions like 'What do these papers say about X?' or 'Summarize the methodology used in the Smith 2023 paper.' The AI sees all your documents at once.

Absolutely. Import PDFs, annotate them, and organize by topic or chapter. Full-text search finds any quote or concept across all your sources. The file organizer can automatically categorize papers. Unlike Zotero, you can also draft your paper in the same workspace with AI assistance.

Yes! Create a workspace for each grant application. Keep the RFP, your drafts, supporting documents, and budget spreadsheets together. The AI can help you draft sections, ensure you're addressing requirements, and summarize previous successful applications.

We don't have a formal student discount yet, but SafeAppeals is free to download and you can use your own API keys (BYOK) at no cost. Many students use OpenAI's or Anthropic's API with their own keys. Our credit packages are also one-time purchases, not subscriptions.

SafeAppeals is currently available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). macOS support is planned for Phase 2. Linux is on the roadmap but no timeline yet.

Not yet—Windows only for now. macOS support is coming in Phase 2 of development. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when the Mac version is available.

You need Windows 10/11 (64-bit), a 1.6 GHz or faster processor, and at least 500 MB of free storage. An internet connection is required for AI features, but basic document editing works offline.

Yes! SafeAppeals is completely free to download and install. You can use the document editors, file organizer, and case management features at no cost. AI features require either purchased credits or your own API keys (BYOK).

Download the installer from our website, run SafeAppealsSetup.exe, and follow the prompts. If Windows SmartScreen appears, click 'More info' then 'Run anyway'. Installation takes less than a minute. See our Installation Guide for details.

No, not for basic use. SafeAppeals is a Windows desktop app that works offline for document editing, file organization, and case management. You only need internet to use the AI chat features. Your files always stay on your computer.

SafeAppeals supports Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5 (Anthropic), GPT-5.2, GPT-5.1 (OpenAI), and Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Pro/Flash (Google). You can switch between models based on your task. See our AI Models guide for recommendations.

Credits are used to pay for AI responses. Each message uses tokens (the AI's unit of measurement) based on your input length and the response length. Different models have different costs per token. Credits never expire. See Understanding Credits for details.

The app is free to download and use. AI chat uses a credit system—you pay for Claude, GPT-5, or Gemini tokens. Typical user: $20-50/month depending on usage. We offer Starter ($30 for 700K tokens) and Pro ($60 for 1.4M tokens) packages. Or bring your own API keys for free.

Yes! SafeAppeals fully supports BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) at no cost. Enter your API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google in the settings, and you pay those providers directly. This is completely free.

SafeAppeals has three modes: Drafting (for writing and editing documents with AI assistance), Research (for exploring policies and case law safely), and Case Manager (for autonomous multi-step tasks where the AI can organize files and compile research). See our AI Case Manager guide for details.

Your files stay on your computer—you just won't be able to use the AI chat until you purchase more credits or add your own API keys. You can still view, edit, and export all your files. Nothing is locked.

PDFs (with annotation), Word documents (.docx), Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx), and Markdown notes. You can also import emails (.eml, .pdf) and convert between formats. See our Document Editing guide for full details.

Yes! SafeAppeals includes built-in Word and Excel editors. You can create, edit, and save documents without switching to Microsoft Office or other applications.

The file converter can convert between formats (e.g., PDF to Word, Word to PDF), batch convert multiple files, and merge PDFs. Access it from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) or the dedicated converter panel. See our File Converter guide.

Yes! The Email Dashboard lets you import .eml and .pdf email files. Emails are indexed for full-text search and organized by case folder. You can also generate AI-assisted draft replies. See our Email Dashboard guide.

The case timeline lets you track important events, deadlines, and milestones. You can link documents to events, set jurisdiction-specific rules for deadline calculations, and export the timeline as a PDF. See our Timeline guide.

The file organizer helps you classify and rename documents using templates and AI-assisted categorization. It can automatically organize your case files into a consistent folder structure. See our File Organizer guide.

Yes! When you save your folder as a workspace, the AI retains context about your case, including your case profile, timeline, and prior conversations. Each workspace has its own isolated database.

Your case files stay on your computer. When you use AI chat, only the messages you send to the AI are uploaded (to Claude, OpenAI, or Google servers depending on your chosen provider). You can also use BYOK to use your own API keys. We never have access to your files.

All your case files stay on your computer. The workspace database (for email indexing, case profiles, etc.) is stored locally. Only your AI conversations are sent to the AI provider you choose—and you pick which provider.

Yes! Document editing, file organization, and case timeline features work completely offline. AI features require an internet connection to communicate with AI providers. Your files never leave your computer.

No. We don't have access to your files or case content. Credit purchases are processed through Stripe. Your AI conversations go directly to your chosen provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google). We never see your documents.

Not yet—real-time collaboration is coming in Phase 2. For now, you can export your case documents (PDFs, Word docs, timelines) and share them manually via email or file sharing.

Not currently. SafeAppeals is a desktop application focused on serious document work. A mobile companion app for reviewing cases on the go is being considered for future development.

Phase 2 priorities include: macOS support, real-time collaboration, enhanced PDF annotation, and more AI integrations. Follow us on GitHub or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.

Yes! Open an issue on our GitHub repository or email support@safeappeals.com. We actively review user feedback and prioritize features based on community needs.