AI + Law = A Match Made in Courtroom Heaven (India’s Edition)

Imagine this: It's the 1980s. You're in a courtroom in India, and the only thing louder than the lawyer’s arguments is the relentless clacking of a typewriter. Clerks are furiously typing out documents, one letter at a time, as they sweat over the case files. No spell-check, no "undo" button—just pure mechanical might, with a few ink-stained fingers as collateral damage.

Fast forward to today, and the scene has completely transformed. Instead of typewriters, we have powerful artificial intelligence (AI) systems working behind the scenes in India’s courtrooms that is helping judges make informed decisions. The lawyers can research case laws within fraction of seconds & enjoy the facility of remote hearing. The litigants can download orders/judgements without going to courts or begging advocates.  

Biggest challenge to India’s Legal Infrastructure is massive backlog of cases. The wait for justice can extend for years which is frustrating both for litigants and legal professionals alike. Which is why film makers have taken liberty at making mockery of Indian judicial system through this famous dialogue “tareek pey tareek toh milti rahi par Insaf nahi mila”. The pressure on judges is immense, which is why legal experts have been constantly trying innovative solutions such as recently the Supreme Court has taken a proactive approach in Lok Prahari v. Union of India, directing retired judges to sit and act as judges of High Courts based on adhoc reappointments under article 224A to tackle the burden.

 In addition to this e-courts Project and National Judicial Data Grid facilitated by Ministry of Law has proven to be a significant stride in making courts across India fully digitized. E-court projects have facilitated to streamline case management, allowing video conferencing with objective of making justice accessible to even remotest location of India. NJDG has allowed courts to access and analyse large scale data across the country, helping identify patterns in case timelines, tracking judge’s performance and keep an eye on case backlogs. This data driven approach is critical for decision making, at the same time help AI system provide relevant information.

Additionally, India is experimenting with AI – powered legal chatbots, such as “Nyaya” and “legalAI”, which offer legal advice and help users understand their legal rights. This is an exciting step towards democratising legal services and ensuring that more people have access to genuine legal knowledge, regardless of their economic background.

AI in action: Transforming every step of the justice process.

AI is revolutionizing the way litigation works, especially for Advocates. Its like a Magic Wand that was Once Pipe Dream but now staple to survive in this field of profession involving high stakes. There are numerous ways in which AI has refashioned litigation process which is completely ambiguous to our Octogenarian generation of Lawyers, as for them its completely changed landscape for which they are laggard. But it’s a game changer for millennial advocates and the way there are colossal investments in R&D in the field of technology, it would prove Boone for coming generation of tech savvy law students. As of now AI has proven its ability effectively by making litigation process more transparent, doing legal research at lightning speed, managing cases, smarter sentencing and making virtual court handier.

Case Management: Being an advocate decades ago was cumbersome job as managing court cases was a maze – files use to get misplaced, hearing got delayed and priorities use to be lost in the shuffle. But now AI powered systems can organise & priorities cases based on urgency or complexity, ensuring that no case falls through cracks that render delivering timely justice. AI can even predict how long a case might take, based on past trends that helps professionals as well as those seeking justice.

Legal research at lightning speed:  In the world of law, time is more than just a measurement – it's a lifeline that can make or break a case. Every minute counts for a lawyer, as delays can mean missed opportunities and lost cases. AI tools can analyse mountains of case laws, legal document and precedents in matter of seconds providing relevant information in no time. What use to take days of painstaking research can be now be done with a single click. AI tools would even recommend best legal strategies that will save time wasted in brainstorming.

Virtual courts: virtual courts have already proven their worth, especially during COVID 19 pandemic. Stepping ahead the Supreme court has provided facility of e-filing that has enabled advocates to file fresh cases from the comfort of their offices, without sending their clerks or physically be present for submitting documents or defects corrections. It’s a blessing for differently abled advocates as now physical presence at court is no more a necessity.  AI has also enhanced real time translations during court hearings, breaking down language barriers making judicial process more accessible for nonnatives speakers which is particularly crucial in a country as linguistically diverse as India.

Smarter sentencing & risk assessment: AI isn’t just about making court process faster, it can also play role in improving fairness and help judges make more informed decisions pertaining to sentencing & parole by analysing thousands of past cases to assess the risk of a repeat offenders or predict the likelihood of committing crime again, eventually making judicial decisions based on data rather than on human judgement alone.

Equal access to justice: In a vast & geographically diverse country like India there are many areas lying in difficult terrain which are still inaccessible through road connectivity or secluded due to cultural or political ignorance. Infact most of the population living in rural areas are not familiar with the complexities of the legal system. Here, AI can level the playing field by making the litigation process reachable to last mile. AI powered chatbots & virtual assistants provide free legal advice & answer queries about cases from comfort of their homes without travelling or paying hefty prices. Since the entire process is now digitized, litigants can track progress of their cases in real time basis & get access to orders / judgements from any corner of the world.

Road ahead: overcoming challenges and future for Indian justice system.

Mere a decade ago, one could not picturise a judge without the scenes of him sitting in high positioned chair with piles of dusty files placed on his desk, but now it’s so convenient for judges as well as advocates to scroll through pages of electronic files on touchscreen gadgets. Human error to predictive analytics and mandatory physical presence to virtual courtrooms, the Indian justice system has evolved in ways that seemed like science fiction just a few decades ago. AI is not a futuristic buzzword; it’s an innovation that is transforming the way justice is delivered in 21st century.

While AI offers incredible potential, the road to full implementation is not without its bumps. India’s legal data is often unstructured or incomplete which can be challenging to develop accurate AI models. Moreover, if AI is not carefully monitored, it could perpetuate biases found in historical data, potentially harming marginalised groups. Additionally, courts handle sensitive information, therefore it’s crucial that AI systems comply with the highest form of data protection to prevent its misuse.

AI can never replace judges or lawyers. It is just a tool to assist that could never be a decision maker. Final judgement will always rest in the hands of human judges, ensuring that justice is tempered with empathy. But surely its revolutionary force that is making judicial system faster, smarter and more inclusive. Therefore, it is necessary that all legal fraternity should be provided adequate trainings to use AI for effective use. All the AI tools/software should be provided free or atleast at affordable rates. With proper guidelines and the right regulatory framework technology is a blessing. AI is a catalyst that will commence a new era in the history of India’s judiciary. Future of justice is here, and it’s powered by AI.

AUTHOR: Harkirat Kaur, Advocate Supreme Court of India, Mobile No: +919599931895, Address: Chamber No. 335, New Lawyers Chambers, MC Setalvad Block, Bhagwan das Road, Supreme court of India, 110001