INTRODUCTION
Have you ever paused to consider how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the Legal domain in India? AI has come a long way, from doing legal research to predicting case outcomes; it is not just a tool but a necessity for the legal profession.
AI can draft a complex legal contract within seconds, summarise lengthy case judgments, manage large client data, make work paperless, efficient, cost-effective, and time-saving. AI is transforming the legal world. The question is, are our laws evolving fast enough to keep up with it?
Let us say a law firm starts using AI-based software for managing client data. While this could lead to increased efficiency and time savings, there is a potential for data breaches and concerns about the security of sensitive client information. It could lead to breach and misuse of such sensitive information, without any clear accountability. This underscores the growing dependence on Legal AI tools and the need for a regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence governance in India.
USES OF LEGAL AI TOOLS
AI tools are being used in legal institutions of various countries, including India. “As per the information provided by the Supreme Court of India, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) based tools are being deployed in case management. They are being used in the transcribing of oral arguments in Constitution Bench matters.”[1] It is also being used for the translation of judgments from English to various Indian Languages. There are many advantages of AI in the legal domain. Some of them are as follows:
1)Management System: An AI-based Client management system can help law firms and legal institutions save time, reduce costs, enhance efficiency, improve client communication, and provide better organisation and data management.
2)Legal Research: Legal research is a very useful skill that helps us gather evidence, understand the laws and their implications on society, and support our arguments using case laws, statutes, and other legal sources. Although it is an important process, it is also time-consuming and exhausting. With the help of Legal AI tools, we can reduce the time while increasing the efficiency of our research.
3)Case Analysis: AI can provide detailed case analysis and summaries of lengthy judgments within seconds, unlike traditional methods that take hours to read and interpret. It helps in saving valuable time and effort that the legal professional can utilise in decision-making and strategising their case arguments.
While the above litany of advantages will positively impact the productivity of the legal profession, ignoring the cons will land the legal system in grave danger. The conundrum of using AI in the legal domain gets flared up by issues such as breach of data privacy and client confidentiality, lack of accountability, algorithmic bias, and misuse of sensitive information.
These critical issues are not to be ignored; they must be addressed with great caution and care to ensure that AI technology benefits society while also taking into account the ethical considerations to protect the citizens’ fundamental rights.
LACK OF REGULATION IN INDIA
India has sector-specific regulations and policies regarding the impact and usage of AI in these sectors, rather than having a single specific AI law.
The regulations and policies for the responsible use of AI in different sectors in India:
- Fintech- RBI and other financial regulators use AI to detect fraud, for credit scoring, risk assessment, and providing financial advice. Algorithmic trading and management of investment portfolios are also done to ensure financial integrity and prevent market manipulation. AI-based chatbots are used to help and solve the queries of customers. This increases the efficiency and accuracy of the services provided.
- “In 2018, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released the “National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence,” aiming to position India as a global leader in AI.”[2]
- “In 2021, NITI Aayog published the “Principles for Responsible AI,” outlining ethical standards such as safety, inclusivity, privacy, and accountability.”[3]
Even after all these policies, India still needs a comprehensive regulatory framework to address issues related to AI tools, so that we can ensure that AI is being used responsibly.
COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF GLOBAL AI REGULATIONS AND INDIA’S EMERGING PATH
Various countries and global organisations are regulating AI to update their laws with the constant evolution of technology and minimise the risks involved with it. Let us discuss some of them in detail:
- EU- The EU Act represents a comprehensive risk-based approach. The AI Act categorises AI software based on its risk levels. The AI systems that pose the highest level of risk are banned to protect citizens from possible harm. High-risk AI software used in healthcare and education has strict requirements to prevent its misuse. They are more focused on protecting the fundamental rights of people to ensure the safety of people and the responsible usage of AI.
- USA-The USA has a more fragmented and sector-specific approach. The FDA regulates AI in the healthcare sector, the FTC oversees Consumer Protection and antitrust, the NHTSA addresses AI in autonomous vehicles, and the CCPA, a California state-level law in data privacy.
- China’s AI regulations are also sector-specific, similar to the USA, but more focused on national security and economic development goals. The policies regulating AI keep evolving, showing governments’ efforts to balance innovation and control.
India should adopt a similar approach to AI as other countries. There should be an AI regulatory authority to guide and supervise the implementation of AI in different sectors. We should also have data protection frameworks with AI included in them, and raise public awareness about responsible ways to use AI and to protect their rights from being violated by it.
CONCLUSION
Today, AI is not just a future concept; it’s a reality. With the advancements in AI technology, legal regulations also need to evolve.
This blog explored that AI is being used in the legal field, and legal professionals and students can use it wisely and efficiently in things like legal research, case analysis, data management, and many more. It has many advantages, like increased efficiency and accuracy, saving time, and better data management. Even though AI has become an integrated part of our daily lives, we still lack a comprehensive framework to govern it. The dangers of AI, such as data breaches, a lack of accountability, and the misuse of information, cannot be ignored, which is why such a framework needs to exist in India. Analysing the AI regulation of countries like the USA, EU, and China gives us a perspective on how to tackle such problems and maintain legal integrity.
It is important for India to move forward by embracing the evolution of technology while also protecting citizens’ rights, which can be done by adopting a comprehensive regulatory framework to govern AI.
Author(s) Name: Anushka Maurya (DR. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University,Lucknow)
References:
[1] Press Information Bureau, ‘Use of AI in Supreme Court Case Management (Press Information Bureau, 20 March 2025) < https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2113224> accessed 5 July 2025
[2]Ankit Singh, ‘The AI Regulatory Landscape in India: What to Know’ (AZoRobotics, 26 February 2025) <https://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=742> accessed 8 July 2025
[3]Ibid
