Three Technology Disruptions that Indian Lawyers should be ready for

Block Chain

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (read, without an internet connection), you would’ve heard this word by now. Smart contracts are of course a nascent technology for which traditional law is still playing catch up. Block-chain will change the way commercial contracts will be contracted and performed. Here is a very useful website for a primer on this technology and it’s possible application in the legal sector.

Data Analytics

Imagine if you had the following information at hand when strategizing with a client regarding the filing of a civil suit –

• The chances of the roster judge granting an injunction in favour of the plaintiff when faced with facts similar to your case?

• Which Senior Counsel has the highest chance of success before that judge

• The chances of the suit succeeding upto the Supreme Court.

• The expected time for the case to be finally decided (including appeals)

• The chances of getting the injunction vacated

These just some of he questions that data analytics can answer. Gavelytics and Ravel (recently acquired by Lexis Nexis) are just two of the existing companies that have created such tech. As more and more information is available online, it is only a matter of time before we have such information available in India as well (in fact, at the moment,  I am advising a company that already has a working prototype that can produce similar data for Supreme Court and High Court decisions).

Machine Learning

Machine learning is exactly what it sounds like. Machines ‘learning’ to do what you want them to do. It is different from conventional programming where the programmer inputs the parameters within which the machine will operate.  The volume of data it consumes is not relevant. On the other hand, with machine learning the machine itself will spot the patterns and come up with a solution. The more data it consumes, the better it becomes. Here is an easy to understand primer on the difference.

 This is a of course a very, very short list. There are a number of technologies that will disrupt the way we practice law. At the risk of sounding insensitive, the present pandemic has created a tremendous opportunity for change.

I hope the opportunity is not missed.