NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell has warned that the adoption of artificial intelligence in law risks widening the gap between well-resourced firms and the rest of the profession. Speaking at a recent event, he said the uneven distribution of AI tools could deepen existing inequalities in access to justice, particularly as legal aid and community legal centres face mounting pressure.
Justice Bell pointed to the growing digital divide between large firms that can invest in specialized AI systems and smaller practices that lack the resources to keep pace. "While AI has the potential to improve efficiency and reduce costs in legal services, its benefits are not being distributed evenly across the profession," he said.
The warning comes as law firms increasingly deploy AI for legal research, document review, and predictive analytics. Major practices have moved quickly to adopt these tools, but sole practitioners and small firms often cannot justify the expense or lack the training to integrate them effectively.
The cost barrier in legal AI adoption
Large commercial firms routinely spend significant sums on bespoke AI platforms trained on proprietary legal data. These tools can slash the hours spent on discovery and due diligence, passing some savings to clients. Smaller operators, by contrast, may rely on generic consumer-grade tools that lack the precision required for complex legal work.
Justice Bell said the profession must take a proactive approach to ensure AI integration does not undermine equal access to justice. Without deliberate intervention, he argued, the technology could reinforce the advantage of clients who can already afford top-tier representation while leaving others further behind.
Pressure on legal aid and community centres
The Chief Justice's remarks land at a time when Australia's legal assistance sector is stretched thin. Community legal centres and legal aid commissions operate with limited budgets, and adding AI tools to their workflows remains a distant prospect for many. Justice Bell noted that in this climate, the disparity in technological capability becomes even more consequential.
His speech did not call for specific regulatory measures, but it underscored a need for collective action across the profession. Bar associations, law societies, and courts could all play a role in guiding how AI is deployed equitably.
The full text of his speech is available to subscribers of Law360 Australia.
Why this matters for legal professionals
For solicitors and barristers in smaller practices, the practical question is how to stay competitive without the budgets of top-tier firms. Learning to use accessible AI tools for tasks like document summarization and legal research is one path forward. Resources such as AI Learning Path for Paralegals offer structured guidance on integrating these technologies into daily legal workflows. The broader AI for Legal landscape continues to evolve, and professionals who build competency now will be better positioned as the technology becomes standard across the sector.
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