Not many know, but the legal profession is one of the oldest in the world. Decades back, laws were mostly made up of individuals with societal power who would bring justice to individuals and communities who deserved it. With the dawn of the modern era, the responsibility of preserving the integrity of law and society fell on the shoulders of lawyers and law firms. But the evolution of the legal profession didn’t stop there.

In recent years, some law firms have been making use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as the Ross chatbot system. It has a reputation for providing clients with sound advice on their legal issues and even helps win cases. The aim of this article from the B.S. Anangpuria Institute of Law, a renowned law college in Haryana, is to put forth how the legal profession has evolved over the years in India and illustrate how these are exciting times in the field of law.

What Does it Take to be a Lawyer in India?

Lawyers are the soul of a true democracy. They are the ones who protect our rights and ensure that the government statutes serve the nation. However, what does it take to be a lawyer in India? Well, in simple terms, you have to pass the Bar Council Examinations upon completing your studies in law.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) is the statutory authority for legal education and regulation of all law degrees and legal practices in India. It is responsible for regulating the administration of justice, improving access to justice, recognizing qualifications for membership, and maintaining standards in legal education. Additionally, it is entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and promoting the rights and interests of lawyers and regulating their professional conduct.

Demystifying the Current Legal Scenario in India

The legal profession in India has evolved profoundly over the years. From being a male-dominated profession once, it is now coveted and practiced by many talented women as well, thereby adding up to the number of skilled law professionals in the nation.

It can be hypothesized that the legal profession in India has evolved (for the better) for two other reasons. Firstly, there has been an increase in the level of education required for admission into law schools, and this has allowed for the emergence of better professionals. Secondly, law firms have begun using technologies such as artificial intelligence, which has changed how they operate and interact with clients and the legal market. This has allowed operations to become more organized and streamlined.

How is Artificial Intelligence Helping the Profession of Law Evolve for the Better?

Since we are discussing the evolution of law in this article, we must talk about AI. Although we have mentioned that AI is being quickly integrated into the legal profession, we haven’t elaborated on “How” as yet. So, a typical example of AI in law is judges making use of it to make more informed decisions about cases that require them to think. It thereby helps to make better decisions and fewer mistakes.

AI is also used in the courtroom as an assistant to lawyers. It helps lawyers access legal documents and data smoothly and with utter ease, which could be otherwise hard for human lawyers to access promptly on their own. In the future, AI will likely have a much more significant role in law and assist legal professionals with various activities.

The Bright Future for Lawyers in India

Studies reveal that there has been a dramatic increase in law students over the past decade in India. You might not be aware, but our country has almost 1.5 million registered lawyers, with new ones being hired daily. In fact, during the pandemic last year, it was reported by The Economic Times newspaper that the number of new lawyers hired by firms had increased by 15-25% (Read here to know more). These figures surely look promising and project a rise in demand in the future as well. Thus, as an aspirant, you can be assured of a bright future in the legal industry. We, at the B.S. Anangpuria Institute of Law, one of the leading law colleges in Haryana, would like to encourage the youth of the nation to pursue your studies in the subject of law as that will not only provide you with a bright career ahead but also enable you to provide service to your country by preserving the purity of law.