Lawyers in India must adhere to the existing duties of competence and supervision when utilizing automated legal tools, as the lack of specific rules on AI does not absolve them of responsibility.
Delegation of tasks to automation or junior staff does not diminish the lawyer's accountability for errors in contract review, emphasizing the importance of maintaining oversight at all times.
The Data Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 in India imposes obligations on law firms processing digital personal data, requiring justification for data processing and implementation of security measures to prevent breaches.
Legal professionals must ensure compliance with confidentiality and data protection laws when utilizing AI tools, particularly regarding cross-border data transfers and securing client information.
The Bar Council of India and other regulatory bodies in India have not issued specific guidelines on AI in legal practice, leaving lawyers to interpret existing laws and navigate the use of automated tools independently.
While international regulators like the Bar Council of England & Wales have offered guidance on AI use in law, Indian lawyers currently rely on self-regulation and existing legal frameworks to address automated legal tools.
Indian law firms have begun experimenting with AI tools for tasks like due diligence, with potential efficiency gains, although challenges with language and data interpretation persist.
The emphasis internationally on cautious AI adoption underscores the need for Indian legal practitioners to maintain control, oversight, and validation of AI outputs to prevent misinterpretation of complex legal clauses.
Legal discourse on AI in India should focus on fundamentals like competence, diligence, confidentiality, and compliance, rather than being swayed by exaggerated promises of AI transformation in legal practice.
Maintaining a balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and upholding fundamental legal principles is crucial for Indian lawyers to responsibly navigate the evolving landscape of automated legal tools.
Lawyers are urged to view AI as a tool to aid rather than replace human judgment and ethics, emphasizing the importance of overseeing AI outputs and preserving client interests and confidentiality.