The Codification Of Code: How AI Is Reshaping Legal Research
- IJLLR Journal
- Sep 12
- 1 min read
Prama, Research Scholar, BJR Institute of Law, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India
Awadhesh Kumar Shukla, Research Scholar, BJR Institute of Law, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India
Sudhanshu Bajpai, Junior Library Superintendent, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi
ABSTRACT
This bibliometric study examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and law, mapping key research trends and influential contributions. A dataset of over 11,000 publications was analysed using citation analysis, co- authorship network mapping, and keyword co-occurrence techniques. The analysis reveals exponential growth in AI-law research output in the last decade and identifies a core set of highly cited works that have shaped the field’s trajectory. Three major thematic clusters emerge: (1) AI for legal decision-making and knowledge systems – encompassing expert systems, legal reasoning, and text analytics; (2) AI in law enforcement and criminal justice – including crime prediction, risk assessment, and policing applications; and (3) Ethical, legal, and policy implications of AI – covering algorithmic fairness, data privacy, and AI regulation. Co-authorship and country collaboration networks show that research is dominated by a few countries (notably China and the USA) with moderate international collaboration. These findings demonstrate how bibliometric methods can quantitatively characterize the development of AI in law and highlight emerging trends (such as AI ethics and governance) that are likely to define future research. The study provides a structured overview of the field’s evolution, influential authors and sources, collaborative patterns, and thematic shifts, offering valuable insights for researchers and policymakers interested in the nexus of AI and legal studies.
