Where to get free legal advice with the help of AI

Generative AI is shaking up industries at lightning speed, and now it's making its case in the legal world. Enter LawConnect, a new platform that offers free AI-generated legal advice.

With lawyer fees often exceeding $200 per hour and many households feeling the strain of rising living costs, the platform - launched by LEAP Legal Software - could be a game-changer for those who need legal help but can't afford it.

But while LawConnect combines the efficiency of AI with human oversight, should consumers really trust AI when it comes to their legal issues?

Australia's legal aid problem

Australia's legal system faces a supply-demand imbalance, with overwhelming demand for services but limited resources to meet it.

Efforts to make legal help cheaper risk compromising the quality of the service, as lawyers may be forced to handle more cases with fewer resources, potentially reducing the attention and expertise given to each case.

However, this creates a justice gap, leaving many people without the support they need, according to a 2023 report commissioned by National Legal Aid (NLA), an independent statutory body that represents legal aid commissions in Australia.

For example, more than 32,000 grants of legal aid are provided each year for family law, often for people at risk of domestic and family violence, but 16,000 more grants are needed annually to meet demand.

The lack of funding means only those Australians in poverty are eligible for legal aid: just 8% of Australian households can access a grant, according to the NLA.

Essentially, there are just two groups of people that can get legal advice - those who can afford it and only some of the desperate. The rest go without.

LEAP founder and CEO, Christian Beck, says not being able to afford a lawyer is a worldwide problem.

"The issue just goes unresolved," he says. "Even in a rich country like Australia, if you go to family court, probably 20% of the people there are acting for themselves."

With many types of law (like family law) being bound by complicated rules that require legal expertise, Beck says "people can ruin their lives" by going in alone.

How LawConnect works

LawConnect operates similarly to other generative AI platforms, but with a key difference: a human lens is always cast over the answer. Here's how it works:

1. Ask a question (overview): Users describe their problem, which creates an 'overview' of what the topic is about.

2. LawConnect AI generates a response (answers): AI analyses the information, asks any follow-up questions, and develops a personalised report with relevant legal details.

3. Human review (conclusion): Before the report is shared with the user, it is anonymised and reviewed by one of LEAP's network of lawyers to ensure accuracy and relevance.

4. Next steps: The platform then provides the user with a 'next steps' section to help guide them. If the lawyer feels the case merits further attention, they may contact the user directly for further assistance.

This hybrid approach balances AI's speed with the expertise and trustworthiness of human legal professionals.

As Beck explains, "We don't completely trust AI because it can be biased or make mistakes. That's why we have experienced lawyers verify the answers."

Will AI make legal advice cheaper?

While LawConnect may help reduce the over-demand for legal help, AI could also be used to make lawyers more efficient. This could "make lawyers cheaper and better" for consumers, according to Beck.

The answer lies in the way AI handles time-consuming, routine work like drafting documents, organising information, and conducting research - all traditionally tedious tasks for lawyers.

Now, AI can analyse information at incredible speeds, allowing lawyers to focus on strategic and complex aspects of cases. This efficiency can lead to stronger cases and more accurate legal advice.

At the same time, AI can help lower the cost of legal services by enabling lawyers to manage more cases without sacrificing quality.

By automating routine tasks, lawyers can take on more clients and reduce fees, helping address the affordability issue that many Australians are faced with when seeking help.

Where else can Australians access free legal help?

For those seeking legal advice, there are options on the market other than LawConnect.

Family Relationships Online is a government-funded organisation that connects people with legal aid commissions for each state and territory. These commissions deliver a wide range of legal assistance services in legal matters, including many free services.

The Australian Pro Bono Centre can also connect you with more than 200 community legal centres - not-for-profit, community-based organisations that offer many free services to everyday people.

Other chatbots, such as Just Answer or Ask a Lawyer On Call, that allow you to talk online with Australian lawyers.

And CourtAid.ai, which accesses over 300,000 Australian judgments and legislation and combines it with Chat GPT 4.0 for legal research purposes.

Why AI is not a silver bullet

It's also important to consider that while AI might reduce costs and improve service in many areas, it's not a silver bullet.

The expertise and judgement of a human lawyer are still critical, particularly for complex cases that require deep legal knowledge, courtroom strategy, and negotiation skills.

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