The promise of generative AI in expanding access to justice is beginning to materialize in concrete ways across the United States, though perhaps not as revolutionarily as initially hyped. Several courts and legal aid organizations are now successfully deploying AI-powered chatbots to help bridge the justice gap.
Leading examples of this technology in action include Legal Aid of North Carolina’s bilingual Legal Information Assistant and the Nevada Supreme Court’s multilingual guidance system. These tools are providing on-demand legal information and procedural guidance to self-represented litigants, while simultaneously reducing administrative burden on court systems.
“While the potential of these tools is undeniable, it’s important to temper enthusiasm with a healthy dose of realism,” notes Nicole Black in her recent analysis. The current implementations, while promising, primarily address specific, narrow legal needs rather than offering comprehensive solutions.
New initiatives are emerging across the country. Missouri Tenant Help offers eligibility screening for legal support, while Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit has introduced SANDI, a federally-funded AI assistant. In Illinois, a collaboration between the Law Center for Better Housing and other organizations has produced Illinois Intervention, focusing on tenant housing rights.
However, challenges remain. These systems require ongoing maintenance and thoughtful design to stay effective. More critically, they depend on a complex network of grants, partnerships, and organizational support, making widespread adoption difficult, especially in resource-limited jurisdictions.
Despite these limitations, each implementation serves as a valuable proof of concept. While generative AI chatbots may not be revolutionizing access to justice yet, they’re demonstrating that incremental progress is possible through technological innovation. The question now is whether these isolated successes can evolve into broader systemic change – a transformation that will require sustained commitment, funding, and innovation from the legal community.
Read more: Above the Law
