IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A BOON OR A BANE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION?

IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A BOON OR A BANE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION?

“The robots are coming” is no longer a sci-fi warning—it’s a genuine concern echoed across industries, including the legal field.

AI in Law: A Global Concern

The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the legal profession is not only a national issue but a matter of global importance. A headline in The New York Times captured the growing unease:
“The Godfather of A.I. Leaves Google and Warns of the Dangers Ahead.”

Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer who spent over five decades developing the very technology behind tools like ChatGPT, has now expressed serious concerns about its long-term consequences.

While AI currently complements human roles—assisting with legal research, translation, drafting arguments, predicting outcomes, and performing administrative tasks—Hinton warns that it may soon go far beyond reducing mere drudgery.

“It takes away the drudge work,” he said. “It might take away more than that.”

He specifically fears that AI could replace paralegals, personal assistants, and others who rely on repetitive, task-based work—causing significant disruption in the legal job market.

AI as an Aid, Not a Judge: The Indian Perspective

India’s 50th Chief Justice, D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized a cautious yet forward-thinking approach:

“We do not think we want to cede our discretion, which we exercise on sound judicial lines in terms of sentencing policy. At the same time, AI is replete with possibilities… How do you expect a judge to digest documents of 15,000 pages, which come with a statutory appeal?”

This reflects an important truth: while AI can assist in various aspects of legal work, it is meant to support, not replace, human judgment. It lacks the human touch—empathy, ethical reasoning, and contextual understanding—that is essential in the legal profession.

Legal decisions affect real lives, involve deep emotional contexts, and carry irreversible consequences. That’s why AI must enhance efficiency, not override human discretion.

AI in India’s Legal System: Current Applications

AI is already reshaping India’s legal landscape. A notable example is the Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS), developed by the Supreme Court. SUVAS uses AI to translate judgments from English into regional languages, making judicial information more accessible in India’s multilingual context. This initiative promotes efficiency, inclusivity, and transparency in the justice system.

Several other tools like SCC Online, Case Mine, Indian Kanoon, and SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency) are revolutionizing legal research. These tools work like digital assistants, retrieving relevant case law and materials within seconds. Lawyers can use specific phrases to generate case-relevant results—helping in building arguments and improving case strategy.

In drafting and documentation, AI tools help legal professionals create documents from scratch. However, AI lacks emotional intelligence. Its drafts may feel cold or emphasize irrelevant points, risking misinterpretation. Since legal research and drafting are fundamental to justice delivery, any error at this stage can derail a case—possibly even leading to wrongful convictions.

This underlines the urgent need to regulate AI, especially when human life and liberty are at stake.

As Blackstone’s ratio (1769) states:“The law holds that it is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.”

This principle reminds us of the value of conventional, human-led legal research, and warns against an overdependence on machines.

AI Regulation in India: A Work in Progress

India does not yet have a dedicated law for AI regulation, but a framework is slowly emerging.

  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NITI Aayog have proposed ethical guidelines for responsible AI usage.

  • A key legislative step is the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which governs how digital personal data is processed—balancing privacy rights with the lawful use of data, including for AI.

Critical Analysis: A Double-Edged Sword

AI is multifaceted—truly a double-edged sword. When used correctly, it can offer immense benefits. But a troubling trend is emerging among law students and practicing advocates: overreliance.

  • Many now use AI even to form opinions. Books are left untouched.

  • Students often avoid research for moot courts, semester exams, or drafting competitions—preferring polished, ready-made content.

  • The line between smart work and shortcut thinking is becoming blurred.

We often hear that “smart work is better than hard work,” but what we now label as “smart” is eroding our ability to think critically. This skill is the sine qua non—not just of the legal profession, but of every profession.

Conclusion

The integration of AI into the legal profession and Indian judiciary marks a transformative shift in how law is practiced and delivered. AI enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and improves the quality of legal services—leading to better client outcomes and faster judicial processes.

Initiatives like SUVAS show how AI can promote inclusivity by overcoming language and administrative barriers. However, realizing these benefits requires legal professionals to embrace innovation, develop new skills, and adapt to technology-driven models.

The future of the legal profession will depend on how well it balances technological advancement with legal expertise—ensuring that justice remains efficient, transparent, and humane.

Ultimately, when one wears the black coat, they carry the solemn duty to bring justice to their client—not through blind reliance on a bot, but through judgment, ethics, and reasoning.

Aameya Sharma
B.A.LL.B (Hons.) – 9th Semester
University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh