Bridging the Justice Gap with Generative AI
The Bencher | May/June 2025
By Nick Guinn, Esquire
The justice gap in the United States remains a persistent and growing challenge. Recent studies by the Legal Services Corporation reveal that 92% of low-income Americans’ civil legal needs receive inadequate or no legal help. The Self-Represented Litigation Network reported in 2020 that in 75% of state court civil cases, at least one party is self-represented. While Inns of Court members consistently demonstrate their commitment to pro bono service, the scale of unmet legal needs demands innovative solutions. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) presents a powerful opportunity to amplify our pro bono impact and serve more Americans in need.
Traditional pro bono efforts, while vital, face inherent limitations of time and resources. A typical attorney might dedicate 50 hours annually to pro bono work, but even this commendable commitment leaves many potential clients unserved. The mathematics of the justice gap are stark: there is roughly one legal aid attorney for every 10,000 eligible clients living in poverty. By strategically incorporating generative AI tools into our pro bono practice, we can expand our reach while maintaining the high standards of service that define the American Inns of Court.
Practical Applications for Enhanced Service
Several promising applications of generative AI could immediately enhance pro bono service delivery. Document automation, traditionally expensive and inflexible, becomes more accessible with AI tools that can quickly adapt templates to specific jurisdictions and client needs. An Inn could collaborate with legal services organization to assist with public outreach, namely, preparing administrative documents to assist with intake or other operations.
Legal research and case analysis, often time-intensive aspects of pro bono work, can be streamlined with AI assistance. These tools can quickly analyze case law, summarize relevant precedents, and identify potential legal issues, allowing attorneys to focus their expertise on strategy and client counseling. Volunteer attorneys could use AI to analyze several years of eviction cases in their jurisdiction, identifying patterns that could help develop more effective defense strategies for pro bono clients. Additionally, AI can help create multilingual resources and educational materials, making legal information more accessible to diverse communities.
Client intake and screening present another opportunity for AI tools. By using AI to prepare initial questionnaires and screen for program eligibility, pro bono programs can more efficiently match clients with appropriate services. One innovative approach could involve using AI chatbots to gather preliminary information and identify urgent legal needs, ensuring that when clients meet with volunteer attorneys, the interaction is more focused and productive. Analysis suggests that AI-assisted intake could reduce initial consultation time by 30% while improving the accuracy of issue spotting.
The Technology-Empowered Pro Bono Practice
Innovation in pro bono service delivery extends beyond basic document preparation. Inns could develop AI-powered document libraries and educational materials to aid self-represented litigants. These resources, supervised by attorney volunteers, could help individuals understand basic legal concepts, identify relevant forms and resources, and prepare for consultations with pro bono attorneys. The result would be more efficient use of volunteer attorney time and better-prepared clients.
Professional development benefits have emerged as an unexpected bonus. Younger attorneys gain valuable experience working with emerging technologies, while seasoned practitioners share their judgment and expertise in applying these tools effectively. This technological mentorship adds a new dimension to the Inn’s traditional mentoring role.
Ethical Implementation and Best Practices
As we integrate AI tools into pro bono service, maintaining ethical standards remains paramount. Inns and the pupillage groups therein could organize programming that addresses one or more of the following:
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate AI tools for pro bono work
- Develop training programs for members on effective and ethical AI use
- Create quality control guidelines for AI-assisted legal work
- Share successful implementation strategies across Inns
- Monitor and address emerging ethical considerations
- Develop protocols for data privacy and security
- Establish best practices for maintaining attorney-client relationships in tech-enabled representations
The Mentoring Connection
The American Inns of Court’s emphasis on mentoring aligns perfectly with the responsible adoption of AI tools. Experienced practitioners can guide newer attorneys in balancing technological efficiency with professional judgment. This mentoring relationship becomes even more valuable as we navigate the integration of AI into legal practice, ensuring that innovation enhances, rather than diminishes, the quality of pro bono service.
Inns could create “AI pro bono teams” that pair experienced attorneys with tech-savvy younger members. These partnerships could prove particularly effective in developing new approaches to common legal challenges while maintaining high professional standards. The teams could also serve as valuable resources for other Inn members interested in incorporating AI tools into their own pro bono work.
Measuring Impact and Looking Forward
Inns and the pupilage groups focused on public outreach could develop metrics that are shared with members of the Inn—and the greater legal community—that measure one or more of the following:
- Number of clients served
- Types of matters handled
- Time saved through AI assistance
- Client satisfaction and outcomes
- Member engagement in pro bono activities
- Quality metrics for AI-assisted work products
- Cost savings and efficiency gains
- Community impact and outreach effectiveness
Early adopters could see encouraging results. A housing clinic could potentially double its capacity by implementing AI tools for document preparation and initial case review, while maintaining high client satisfaction rates.
The Path Forward
The justice gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the American Inns of Court. By thoughtfully incorporating generative AI into our pro bono efforts, we can serve more clients more effectively while upholding our commitment to excellence in the practice of law. This technology-enhanced approach to pro bono service aligns perfectly with our mission of promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice.
The potential impact is significant: if AI tools can help each pro bono attorney serve even 25% more clients annually, the collective effect across all Inn members could mean tens of thousands more Americans receiving needed legal assistance. Moreover, the efficiency gains could encourage more attorneys to engage in pro bono work, knowing they can make a meaningful impact within their time constraints.
Through careful implementation, ongoing evaluation, and a commitment to ethical practice, we can use these new tools to help bridge the justice gap while maintaining the high standards that define our organization.
Success in this endeavor will require continued collaboration, openness to innovation, and a steadfast commitment to our professional values. The justice gap may be wide, but with generative AI as a new tool in our pro bono toolkit, we are better equipped than ever to bridge it. By embracing this technology thoughtfully and strategically, we can honor our profession’s highest calling: ensuring that justice is accessible to all.
Nick Guinn, Esquire, is a trademark and patent attorney with Gunn Lee & Cave PC in San Antonio, Texas. He is a Barrister member of the William S. Sessions American Inn of Court.