We’ve all seen the headlines. The buzz around AI is everywhere—often overwhelming, sometimes overblown. But beneath the noise, something fundamental is taking shape. And in the legal space especially, the promise may actually live up to the hype.
Millions of Americans have long struggled to navigate a legal system that feels impenetrable—buried under complex language, high costs, and systemic barriers. The access to justice crisis is not new, but it remains urgent. Despite decades of reform efforts, the system still fails to serve those who need it most.
This is where AI has the potential to be the tool that finally moves the needle. When designed with intention, it can do far more than streamline workflows for legal professionals; it can also open doors for the public. By simplifying legal information, translating it into accessible language, and surfacing resources in real-time, AI offers a new way to engage with the law.
The Problem: A System Designed for the Few
The divide between the civil legal needs people face and the resources available to meet those needs is vast. According to the Legal Services Corporation’s 2021 Justice Gap Report, low-income Americans do not receive any or enough legal help for 92 percent of their substantial civil legal problems. From tenants threatened with eviction to individuals navigating family court, most cannot afford an attorney. This impacts more than 50 million Americans, including more than 15 million children and nearly 8 million seniors.
Even for those “going it alone,” the US legal system is notoriously difficult to navigate. The cost of research tools, the complexity of case law, and the time required to research even basic legal questions all contribute to its inaccessibility. In a society where laws influence everything from housing to healthcare, this inaccessibility is a structural barrier to equity.
The justice gap doesn’t just affect individuals—it carries a cost for society as a whole. Over half (55%) of low-income Americans who experienced a civil legal problem report that it had a substantial impact on their lives, with consequences ranging from financial strain to mental health challenges, physical harm, and damaged relationships.
The brunt of the access to justice gap is felt by the most vulnerable among us, but it is not a problem that only exists below the poverty line. In fact, a report by the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System and The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law found that 66% of the US population experienced at least one legal issue in the past four years, with just 49% of those problems having been completely resolved.
The Promise of AI in Legal Tech
AI offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bridge the accessibility gap. AI-powered tools can summarize case law, translate legal documents into plain language, and surface relevant precedents in seconds. In other words, they can replicate some of the work currently being done by humans—but as we know, there are simply not enough humans to cover all the needs. These innovations are already transforming how legal professionals work, and they hold enormous potential for the general public.
Imagine a tenant receiving a personalized explanation of their rights in seconds. A parent navigating custody issues finds clear, actionable guidance in their own language. Or an AI tool actually being used to identify and mitigate bias in the legal system itself, such as in the analysis of body cam footage. Or AI-enabled systems that make the law itself more accessible or AI that helps streamline how courts themselves function.
The Risks of Getting It Wrong
With great potential comes significant risk. If not designed with equity in mind, legal AI could reinforce the very barriers it promises to remove. Biased training data, opaque algorithms, and inaccessible interfaces can deepen existing inequalities.
The danger isn’t hypothetical. For example, a ProPublica investigation into the COMPAS algorithm used in criminal sentencing found significant racial bias, underscoring the importance of transparency and oversight in legal AI systems.
Too often, legal AI tools are built without input from the communities they aim to serve. If these tools are optimized solely for professionals or trained on narrow datasets, they risk perpetuating exclusion.
Transparency and explainability are critical. Users need to understand how AI-generated recommendations are made. Otherwise, we risk replacing one form of gatekeeping with another.
As AI tools become more sophisticated, we must also navigate the legal and ethical boundaries around the unauthorized practice of law—ensuring that technology empowers users without misleading them or replacing the essential role of legal professionals where required.
Shared Responsibility: Technologists, Legal Professionals, and Policymakers
Creating equitable legal AI isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a civic obligation. Developers, legal professionals, and policymakers must collaborate to ensure AI tools are built responsibly. Technologists must prioritize inclusive design and ethical development. Legal professionals should advocate for open access to legal information and ensure tools align with the principles of justice. Policymakers must enact safeguards that govern how AI is used in legal systems to protect the public interest.
This is a shared responsibility. A more just, accessible legal system requires collective action and sustained commitment.
So, how can we design AI tools to unlock the law? First, tools must be accessible, including cost, ease of use, and language. This also means the tools must be presented in plain language and available in multiple languages. AI legal tools must also be transparent and have explainable and accountable functionalities. But most importantly, AI tools designed to bridge the justice gap must be community-informed and developed with input from those most affected by legal inequities.
Innovation must not come at the expense of inclusion. Legal AI should be measured not only by technical sophistication but also by its impact on real people—especially those who have historically been left out of the system.
A Call to Build Responsibly
We are at a pivotal moment. AI can either expand the justice gap or help close it. The outcome depends on the choices we make today.
The law belongs to everyone. It’s time we build technology that reflects that truth. Let’s ensure AI becomes a force for justice, not just another innovation that leaves the most vulnerable behind.
