THE IMPACT OF AI ON LEGAL

PRACTICE.
Khushi Singh

The legal career, previously significantly dependent on copious paperwork, manual research, and
human decision-making, is in the process of being revolutionized with the advent of Artificial
Intelligence (AI). This technology is not to displace lawyers but to make them more efficient,
precise, and better decision-makers. AI is making legal research, contract review, and case
prediction faster, with much less effort and time involved. Yet, just like with every technological
development, AI in law practice is both beneficial and troublesome. As much as it enhances
efficiency and accuracy, its potential ethical effects, data security, and reliability must not be
dismissed.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the legal research by reducing the time lawyers spend
searching for relevant case laws, precedents, and statutes. Traditional legal research could take
days, if not weeks, as lawyers had to go through mountains of legal documents. Now,
AI-powered legal research tools like LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Ross Intelligence scan vast legal
databases within seconds, delivering precise results. These tools use advance technology like
natural language processing and machine learning to understand complex legal queries and get
the most relevant cases, which is thereby improving the efficiency1. Today, processes like
contract review and due diligence , which once used to need numbers of lawyers to carefully go
through the legal documents, are made much easier by AI-powered software. These advanced
systems can spot the potential risks, flag inconsistencies, and ensure if everything follows the
law way faster than any human lawyer could do the same2.

Moreover, AI is Making big impact in predicting consequence in legal field. By looking out
historical case data, AI can help lawyers figure out how they are likely to win a particular case, it

1
See generally LexisNexis, Artificial Intelligence in Legal Research, https://www.lexisnexis.com (last visited Mar. 8,
2025).

2
Richard Susskind, The Future of Law and AI, 40 Harv. J.L. & Tech. 321, 327 (2024).
provides lawyers valuable insights about what might happen in legal field 3. By such predictions
lawyers can plan their strategies better, to decide if they should settle for a case or take it to
court. Furthermore, AI-powered chatbots and virtual legal assistants are making it easier for
clients by answering common legal queries, drafting basic legal documents, and guiding
individuals through standard legal procedures without human lawyer 4.

Despite these advancements, AI in law presents several challenges that cannot be ignored. One
of the most significant concerns is the potential for AI-generated misinformation. AI algorithms,
while powerful, can make mistakes. There have been instances where AI legal research tools
have produced fake case laws, incorrect citations, or misleading legal interpretations5. If lawyers
rely solely on AI-generated outputs without verifying they might end up sharing inaccurate
information in court, which could lead to serious legal consequences. This issue raises concerns
about the reliability of AI in critical legal decision-making.

A significant drawback of AI in legal practice is issue of algorithmic bias. AI systems learn from
past legal data, and if this data contains biases—whether based on race, gender, socioeconomic
status, or other factors—the AI might end up keeping those biases in its decision-making6.
For instance, if an AI tool examines sentencing trends in criminal cases is trained on data that
reflects systemic biases like unfairness in past judicial decisions, it may continue suggesting
unfair outcomes to predict or recommend biased outcomes7. This brings up serious concerns
about fairness, discrimination, and the potential for AI to making existing inequalities in the
justice system even worse . To Ensure that AI tools remain impartial and free from
discriminatory patterns is a significant challenge for the legal sector.

Integrating AI into legal sector comes with major issues around confidentiality and data security.
Legal professionals handle sensitive client information, and AI-driven legal systems require ton
amounts of legal data to operate effectively. If these systems are not properly secured, they may
3
Frank Pasquale, The Black Box Society: The Secret Algorithms That Control Money and Information, 27 Yale L. &
Pol’y Rev. 135, 142 (2023).

4
AI in Legal Practice: Opportunities and Challenges, 75 Stan. L. Rev. 104, 109 (2024).

5
Andrew Perlman, The Impact of AI on Legal Ethics, 56 Am. U. L. Rev. 433, 438 (2023).

6
Kate Crawford, Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence, 88 Tex. L. Rev. 421,
425 (2022).

7
Virginia Eubanks, Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor, 94 Minn. L.
Rev. 309, 316 (2023).
become higher risk to data breaches, unauthorized access, or cyberattacks8. The potential risk of
exposing confidential client communications, case strategies, or privileged legal advice, is
making strong cybersecurity measures essential in AI adoption within the legal field.

Furthermore, while AI is proficient at processing legal information and identifying patterns, it

One downside of AI in legal practice is that it might make lawyers less skilled critical thinking
and research skills among lawyers. Since AI can handle tasks like legal research, drafting, and
document analysis, there is a risk that young legal professionals may become overly dependent
on technology rather than developing their analytical and reasoning skills10. The ability to
construct legal arguments, interpret laws, and question past decisions is fundamental to the legal
profession. Over-dependence on AI could lead to a generation of lawyers who lack the depth of
legal knowledge and problem-solving abilities that come from actually doing hands-on legal
research and case analysis.

Despite these concerns, AI in legal practice is not inherently negative—it is be a helpful tool too
when used responsibly, can greatly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of legal
professionals. To avoid the risks associated with AI, lawyers must adopt a balanced approach by
using AI into their workflow while keeping human oversight11. AI should be used as a
supplementary tool rather than a replacement for human expertise. It is important for lawyers to
critically evaluate AI-generated results, cross-check legal information, while ensuring that ethical
considerations are always prioritized.

8
Danielle Citron, The Privacy Implications of AI in Law, 66 UCLA L. Rev. 872, 880 (2023).

9
Cass Sunstein, Law and Emotion in the AI Era, 61 U. Chi. L. Rev. 341, 347 (2023).

10
Ethan Katsh, Online Dispute Resolution and AI, 72 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 211, 218 (2023).

11
Susan Nevelow Mart, AI in Legal Research: Fact or Fiction?, 80 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 152, 159 (2023).
Legal frameworks and regulations need to address the ethical and legal challenges that AI brings
in the legal industry. It's important for governments and legal bodies should establish guidelines
on AI transparency, accountability, and data protection to avoid any misuse12. Law firms and
legal tech companies should also priorities in continuous monitoring and updating of AI
algorithms to reduce biases and enhance accuracy. By putting these safeguards, the legal
profession can take the power of AI while minimizing its risks.

The future of AI in legal practice is not about replacing lawyers but about creating a partnership
between technology and human expertise. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows legal
professionals to focus on more complex work such as courtroom advocacy, legal strategy, and
client relationships13. The legal industry is at a turning point, and those who adapt AI while
maintaining ethical and professional standards will be best positioned for success.

This advancement of legal practice with AI is not a conflict of humans versus machines—it is a
partnership which aimed at building a more efficient, accessible, and fair legal system.

12
John McGinnis, The Rise of AI Judges, 69 Duke L.J. 405, 410 (2023).

13
Ryan Calo, AI in Law: The Next Frontier, 98 Calif. L. Rev. 232, 238 (2023).