An Analysis Of The Current Problems Facing Advocates And Clients In Court Proceedings
M. Santhosh, The Central Law College Salem, Tamilnadu
ABSTRACT
Legal practice is being reshaped by artificial intelligence at a pace few in the profession anticipated. Advocates now turn to AI for research, drafting, and case analysis, while courts and regulators are still working out what competence and fairness mean in this new setting. This paper sets out working definitions of the key terms in the debate, states the aims and method of the study, and then works through the problems that generative and predictive AI tools currently create for advocates on one hand and for the clients they serve on the other. On the advocate's side, the discussion covers the growing number of court sanctions tied to fabricated AI citations, the strain AI places on confidentiality and privilege once client data passes through third-party systems, open questions about supervision and competence, and the cost pressure that falls disproportionately on smaller firms. On the client's side, the paper looks at algorithmic bias in AI-assisted decisions, the difficulty of challenging an opaque automated output, uneven access to AI-enhanced services, and gaps in what clients are actually told about how AI is being used in their matter. A review of the regulatory response, bar opinions, court rule amendments, and pending legislation, leads into a set of practical safeguards for integrating AI into practice responsibly.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, legal ethics, access to justice, AI hallucination, legal profession, algorithmic bias, professional responsibility
