AI: the new legal powerhouse — why lawyers should befriend the machine to stay ahead

Source: Reuters

AI is evolving at lightning speed, sparking both wonder and worry. As it transforms industries and our daily lives, we are caught between the thrill of innovation and the jitters of uncertainty. Will AI elevate the human experience or just leave us in the dust? How will it impact our careers, privacy and sense of security? Just as we witnessed with the rise of the internet — and later, social media — AI is poised to redefine how we work and live, bringing a mix of optimism and apprehension. While we grapple with AI's implications, our clients expect us to lead the charge in leveraging it for their benefit. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/ai-new-legal-powerhouse-why-lawyers-should-befriend-machine-stay-ahead-2024-10-24/

Failed surgery alone does not imply medical negligence: SC

Source: Hindustan Times - MSN

The Supreme Court has emphasised that medical professionals cannot be held liable for negligence solely because surgery or treatment does not produce the expected results, asserting that the culpability of doctors must stem from clear evidence pointing to a deviation from accepted medical practices. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/failed-surgery-alone-does-not-imply-medical-negligence-sc/ar-AA1t3vO0?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=d3ba9341d43d49d08073100f978ce525&ei=44

Pro bono in action: How one global law firm is making a lasting impact

Source: Legal Cheek

Pinsent Masons senior associate Meghan Higgins on the importance of pro bono and the skills it teaches junior lawyers. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and following years of increased need for accessible legal services around the world, Pinsent Masons launched a regenerated pro bono programme in May of last year, providing free legal advice to organisations and individuals who could not otherwise access it. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.legalcheek.com/lc-careers-posts/pro-bono-in-action-how-one-global-firm-is-making-a-lasting-impact/

Indian law firms eye longer arms

Source: Economic Times

At a time when numerous multinational companies are seeking to enter or expand their presence in India, domestic law firms are establishing practices abroad to support these companies while exploring new opportunities in international markets. Indian law firms are expanding internationally, setting up offices in key global hubs like Singapore and Dubai. This move, driven by increasing cross-border deals and international arbitration, is aimed at supporting multinational companies entering India. Firms like Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Khaitan & Co are leading this trend, establishing strategic partnerships across Europe and Africa to tap into new markets and uphold international standards.

To read more please go to the following link:

https://m.economictimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/indian-law-firms-eye-longer-arms/amp_articleshow/114702829.cms

SC recalls 2022 verdict declaring benami law provisions unconstitutional

Source: Daily Excelsior

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday recalled its 2022 verdict that had declared as unconstitutional two provisions of the law on prohibition of benami property transactions that restrains such deals and acquisition of properties by authorities. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/sc-recalls-2022-verdict-declaring-benami-law-provisions-unconstitutional/

How Justice Bhagwati’s 44-year-old dissent mirrors the state of death penalty in India

Source: Supreme Court Observer

There has been significant empirical work demonstrating the inefficacy of the death penalty. In its 75th year, the Court must engage with it. In 1980, a majority of four judges upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in Bachan Singh v State of Punjab. The sole dissenter was Justice P.N. Bhagwati, who wrote only two paragraphs in his opinion, noting that he would provide the reasons for his view on the day the Court reopened after the summer break. The detailed dissent is a classic for the way it emphasised the inherent arbitrariness and inhumanity of the death penalty. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.scobserver.in/75-years-of-sc/how-justice-bhagwatis-44-year-old-dissent-mirrors-the-state-of-death-penalty-in-india/

Lawyer Beats AI In Mock Trial Experiment

 Source: Artificial Lawyer

Given advances in generative AI, would a person in court assisted primarily by AI be able to outperform a regular human lawyer? Australian law firm, Lander & Rogers, decided to find out. The mock trial at SXSW Sydney was judged by Professor David Lindsay from the University of Technology Sydney and used AI tool NexLaw, supported by Ken Leung, a lawyer on Lander & Rogers’ Digital Economy team. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.artificiallawyer.com/2024/10/17/lawyer-beats-ai-in-mock-trial-experiment/

Private law varsities can no longer use terms like 'Indian', 'National', 'Bhartiya' for law-related events, moot courts

Source: MSN News

Now, private law universities will not be able to use words like "India", "Indian", "National", "Bharat", "Bhartiya" and "Rashtriya" when organising law-related events like conferences, moot courts and so on. This was made clear via a circular by Bar Council of India (BCI) dated, Tuesday, October 15. To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/private-law-varsities-can-no-longer-use-terms-like-indian-national-bhartiya-for-law-related-events-moot-courts/ar-AA1sm46S?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=8146c66602b54f1eab4126d618c5ef10&ei=43

The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession - International Bar Association and Centre for AI & Digital Policy release groundbreaking report

Source: IBA Net

The International Bar Association (IBA) and the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) have launched a new report titled The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession. This comprehensive study explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal profession and offers critical insights into the governance and ethical deployment of AI technologies in legal practice and how they help society. To read more please go to the following link: 

https://www.ibanet.org/IBA-and-CAIDP-release-report-The-Future-is-Now-Artificial-Intelligence-and-the-Legal-Profession

Making audio recording of conversation inside police station not an offence under S.3 of Official Secrets Act, 1923: Bombay High Court

 Source: SCC Online

The contents of FIR do speak about insult or intimidation and thus, it is left open to the Court concerned to see whether charge needs to be framed under Section 120-B1 or Section 342 of the Penal Code, 1860.... To read more please go to the following link:

https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2024/10/08/making-audio-recording-of-conversation-in-police-station-no-offence-u-s-3-official-secrets-act-bomhc/ 

GenAI Trends in the Legal Profession in 2024

 Source: National Law Review

As we near the end of 2024, generative artificial intelligence (genAI) continues to shape the legal profession. These ten trends highlight how lawyers' adoption rates, genAI usage, and risk assessments have evolved over the past year. To read more from the article by Ms. Carolyn Elefant please go to the following link:

https://natlawreview.com/article/genai-trends-legal-profession-2024#google_vignette

Seven legal issues created by Generative AI

 Source: Annapurna Express

Generative AI (Gen AI) is a form of artificial intelligence that has the capability to create different kinds of content, such as text, images, audio, and synthetic data based on the data they have been trained on. Chat GPT, Google Bard, Perplexity AI, Jasper AI, Copy. AI, Midjourney, Copilot and Firefly are a few examples of Gen AI...

Gen AI has raises many legal challenges and issues. To read more please go to the following link:

https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/50801/

Constitution’s relevance lies in its flexibility: CJI

 Source: Hindustan Times

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Thursday emphasised the enduring relevance of the Indian Constitution, attributing its longevity to its flexibility and sensitivity to the evolving needs of its people. Delivering the MK Nambyar Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, the CJI highlighted that the Constitution’s ongoing relevance is the result of a continuous dialogue between generations of citizens, each of whom interprets and applies constitutional principles to address contemporary challenges. To read more please click on the following link:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/constitutions-relevance-lies-in-its-flexibility-cji-101727413998051.html