How the COVID-19 Pandemic Reshaped the Narrative around Legal Tech

The last year and half have taught us many things – the proper procedure to hand washing was truly a revelatory one, yes. But very few among the many lessons were more surprising or more ground-breaking than the ones that the legal industry has been forced to reckon with. As with every other sector, the pandemic, in its seemingly limitless restrictions, has proven that the functioning of law and justice can never really be separated from advancements in technology, but rather that they must coexist.

In India, the legal system is assumed to be notoriously averse to new technology. Within many legal circles, there is a general reluctance and in certain cases even apathy towards adoption of advanced technology – a concern that mainly stems from the fear of losing relevance. But, contrary to the overall medical, social or economic effect seen in the last few months, the pandemic and its resulting restrictions have proven to be just the boost the legal and justice tech industry needed to make its mark known. It has served as the perfect module that set all previously assumed fears to rest and enabled us to finally view the benefits of legal and justice tech as seen within legal communities and within the population at large.

While casting a light at the outdated systems in place used to teach, practice and deliver justice, the pandemic has also shown us the many ways reforms could be brought in so that our legal systems remain inclusive, transparent and equitable. But the more surprising find was the speed with which the Indian legal systems have adopted the change – in stark contrast to the adage ‘Yeh India hai bhai! Yahaan aisa hi hota aaya hai!’

Law schools across the country have taken to online schooling, judicial processes from filing to registry are all conducted with ease on the Internet and law firms are breaking new grounds in legal tech systems as they continue to work remotely. But perhaps the most revolutionary break-through was seen within the courtrooms as they quickly and effectively adapted themselves to a virtual one. Although none of these are novel to India or the pandemic, the urgent need to keep the practice and delivery of justice accessible has served us with the just the right tools we needed to navigate the pandemic. It has also provided the legal and justice tech industry with the right window to enhance and transform the reaches of justice systems everywhere, even after these troubling times come to an end.