New Delhi [India], June 2: At Manupatra, we have consistently led innovation at the intersection of technology and the Indian legal sector. Our ongoing engagement with legal professionals and law students provides us with valuable insights into the evolving legal ecosystem and emerging tech-driven practices shaping it.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has embedded itself in everyday routines—both personal and professional. Within the legal field, AI-based tools have showcased tangible benefits, from enhancing research efficiency and assisting in drafting, to simplifying case and contract management. Yet, instances have also surfaced where lawyers and judges inadvertently cited fictitious cases generated by AI.
Recognizing AI’s vast potential for legal applications, Manupatra conducted a “first of its kind” national survey to assess how deeply AI is being integrated into the Indian legal framework. The survey collected direct input from professionals and students to identify crucial gaps and lay a roadmap for responsible, ethical, and effective AI deployment. These insights are vital for guiding legal professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders toward meaningful solutions and risk reduction strategies.
Manupatra is proud to release its comprehensive report titled “Adoption of AI in the Indian Legal Landscape.” The findings draw from responses provided by 227 participants, including students, advocates, corporate counsels, firm partners, professors, and members of the judiciary from across the country.
Key Findings:
Digitally Savvy Respondents: 60% of survey participants are aged between 18-34, with law students (36.6%) and advocates (23.8%) representing the majority—highlighting a strong foundation for AI adoption at the grassroots level.
Early-Stage Engagement: Around 60% reported using AI tools in the last year, primarily for legal research (77.9%), content summarization (65.7%), and drafting assistance (54.7%).
Efficiency vs. Skepticism: Although 79.7% experienced notable time savings on routine tasks, just 4.1% fully trust AI outputs without review, while nearly half (48.8%) insist on manual validation.
Key Limitations: More than 58% pointed to inconsistent quality, 51.2% encountered hallucinated results, and 42.4% noted a lack of Indian legal specificity in available AI tools.
Governance Lapses: While 77.1% support transparent AI use in legal submissions, only 11% of respondents indicated their organizations have formal AI usage policies.
Highlighted Challenges:
Inconsistent Accuracy (58.14%): Over half of users reported unreliable and sometimes fabricated results as a major drawback.
Client Confidentiality Risks (47.67%): Concerns persist about data protection and meeting confidentiality standards.
Contextual Gaps (42.44%): Many AI platforms fail to incorporate the unique complexities of Indian law.
Ethical Accountability (38.37%): Respondents shared concerns around legal liability, bias, and upholding professional ethics.
Limited Skill Development (40.12% & 34.30%): Gaps in staff training and awareness about AI tools remain key hindrances.
Expectations & Outlook:
Adoption Forecast: About 35.68% believe AI will become a standard legal resource within 1-2 years, while only 3.96% anticipate a longer horizon beyond five years.
Cautious Optimism: While 46.25% have a “mostly positive” view and 18.06% see AI as “transformative,” 45.37% remain cautiously optimistic, noting both the benefits and the risks.
Infrastructure Needs: Respondents emphasize the need for accredited training (67.40%), trial or freemium access to tools (66.52%), and policy frameworks from bar councils or courts (47.58%) to promote adoption and ensure trust.
Human-AI Partnership: The general consensus is that AI will enhance—rather than replace—human judgment, aiding with research and writing but leaving final decisions to legal professionals.
About Manupatra:
Manupatra is India’s leading provider of legal, regulatory, business intelligence, and analytics solutions, enabling smarter and faster access to the law. Since pioneering online legal research in India in 2000, Manupatra has built the country’s most comprehensive repository of Indian and international legal content, integrated with advanced AI and ML tools. Serving lawyers, firms, judges, government agencies, and legal departments, Manupatra blends legal expertise with technology to offer intuitive, powerful solutions trusted across the industry.