Will AI make the legal profession obsolete, or will it redefine it?

Despite popular claims in major blockbuster films and sci-fi novels, the scientific and technological communities across the world have dispelled the common misconception and have come to a general consensus that at no point in the future will Artificial Intelligence ever truly compensate for human effort. The fact resounds more truly within the field of law as the practice and deliverance of justice are intricately tied to human instinct and comprehension.

While the question posed in this article may seem jarring, it is in fact the biggest concern among professionals in the field. Fortunately, recent events and the implementation of legal and justice technology within various levels of the judiciary has brought us to a stage where we can safely claim our former fears to be unfounded. We now know that Artificial Intelligence in law, or any field for that matter, can give way to richer discourses and debates amongst students, professors and even lawyers. Rather than replacing lawyers, we now know that the sole and most important purpose of research and developments in the field of AI is to support and enhance human endeavour and the field of law is no exception. In fact, one of the Supreme Court of India’s former judges, Hon’ble Mr Justice A.K. Sikri once openly stated that ‘Artificial Intelligence will augment lawyers’ capabilities but cannot take the place of a lawyer, as advocacy is a matter of emotions and human empathy’.

The latest advancements in AI, particularly with respect to its implementation in the field of law, are carefully devised in such a way that AI will automate certain aspects of a lawyer’s job — typically the most time-consuming and routine parts of the job. This will allow lawyers to focus their time and effort onto more important tasks and pressing matters.

What this means is that as new AI capabilities are introduced within the practice of law, the role of a lawyer will continue to evolve, but will never be eliminated. However, what this also means is that lawyers cannot afford to ignore the advancements in AI, for those lawyers who have successfully adopted Artificial Intelligence within their practices will eventually replace the ones who haven’t.