We've all seen the movie scene where a clever lawyer exposes a dodgy witness in court, resulting in a victorious outcome and an improved world. However, in reality, many legal battles are lost by individuals who can't afford to fight well-funded adversaries. This is where artificial intelligence, a recent hot topic, comes into play, transforming justice and fairness. The legal industry is abuzz with AI's potential, which ranges from basic tasks like drafting contracts to analyzing complex cases quickly. This isn't just happening in big law firms but also in local clinics like London's Westway Trust, which helps resolve disputes for people unable to afford legal services out of pocket. One client shared her story of homelessness after a landlord canceled her tenancy. Despite legal aid being available for the poorest, it's limited and means-tested, causing many to abandon justified claims. AI can reduce the cost of legal proceedings by providing expert advice and speeding up case analysis. For example, at Westway, paralegal adviser Adam Samji uses AI tools to dissect documents efficiently, allowing quicker preparation for cases against landlords or government benefit denials. AI helps cut through lengthy paperwork swiftly, freeing up valuable time for volunteer paralegals to assist more clients. AI is closing the fairness gap in the justice system, according to Sir Geoffrey Vos, the top judge in civil justice in England and Wales.

He believes AI can help resolve claims faster and cheaper, reducing societal stress and economic loss. Legal AI tools, like the one developed by Stephen Dowling from Trialview, can even analyze witness statements in real-time to identify inconsistencies—typically a barrister's job. However, AI's potential downsides include the risk of errors, as evidenced by cases like a New York court fining lawyers for using incorrect AI-derived arguments. To mitigate this, AI outputs are cross-checked by humans, as done by Westway Trust. Sir Geoffrey's guidance emphasizes that legal professionals remain responsible and must check AI results. While AI tools can support judges, particularly with limited resources in a populous country, true justice relies on human judges' independent decisions. AI can aid but not replace this essential human element. Sir Geoffrey advises against using generic AI for legal advice, underscoring the importance of context-specific knowledge. He expresses confidence in technology's progress, which will help uphold the rule of law by providing judicial outcomes effectively in a system strained by a small number of judges serving a large population.