Research summary
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how legal work is done, sparking debate over whether it can improve access to justice. But AI’s role will be shaped by two sets of rules that govern lawyers’ work: civil procedure, which determines what is allowed in court, and legal ethics, which define professional responsibilities.
Dr. Abdi Aidid, Canada Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice, is mapping how these rules interact with AI tools used in legal work and identifying both barriers and opportunities for change. Working in phases, he and his research team are cataloguing existing standards and exploring their adaptability to AI as well as proposing frameworks for integrating technology into legal practice responsibly. By clarifying how procedural and ethical rules influence the adoption of AI, their work will guide policy-makers, lawyers and technologists in ensuring that AI strengthens fairness in the justice system rather than undermining it.