Research and development in private law

Research and development in private law

Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession: A Representation of Smart Advocacy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Criminal Law and Criminology, Department of Law, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
Abstract
Artificial intelligence, as one of the most important and expanding human achievements, has spread its dominance in various fields and cast its shadow on various professions. Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly have an impact on skills, jobs and working relationships. The legal profession is also being affected by this technology. While there is an initial incentive for some legal professionals to incorporate AI and machine learning-based legal technology tools into their developing business model, it is valuable for lawyers who are interested in learning how AI-based legal technologies can change the way they work and what their work will look like in the future. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to examine the opportunities and challenges presented by AI for the legal profession and advocacy.The findings and conclusions indicate that artificial intelligence and legal innovations based on machine learning can change aspects of the legal profession. Artificial intelligence, with its current capabilities, cannot completely replace the job of a lawyer. However, it can reduce the workload of lawyers and play its role in the development of the legal institution as one of the wings of justice in the judicial system. However, artificial intelligence, like other emerging technologies, will also bring challenges. The expansion of legal technology using artificial intelligence will only be possible when we have a specific legal framework for its actions to minimize the risks and challenges associated with it, only then can we benefit from the maximum benefits of artificial intelligence. Therefore, to incorporate artificial intelligence into the legal industry, we must have a fair and balanced approach. Therefore, training lawyers in new skills emerges as a fundamental necessity in the approach to artificial intelligence. An AI strategy should not simply be forward-looking, but should begin with an honest discussion and analysis of the shortcomings of the development, design, and application of this technology.
Keywords
Subjects

Dehghanpour Farashah, Sobhan,  Rahbar,  Navid (2023), Intellectual Property Protection for Intangible Technologies in Autonomous Vehicles in Iran, US, and EU: A Comparative Study with the Focus on Algorithms, Journal of comparative Law Revivew, 13(2): 531-551. https://doi.org/10.22059/jcl.2022.336887.634298
Divsalar, Nader, najafi tavana, Ali (2021), Lawyer’s independency and defence right at legislative development, Journal of Criminal Law Research,  9(34): 133-163. https://doi.org/10.22054/jclr.2020.44597.1951
Saghian, Mohammad Mahdi  (2025), The Right to a Lawyer in Light of the Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, Journal of Research and Development in Criminal  Law and Criminology,  2(3): 242-262. https://doi.org/10.22034/jclc.2025.2051470.1155
Shakeri, Zahra,  Miladi qomi, Mohammad Matin (2025), Research on the legal aspects of chatbots; Analysis of Personality Rights, Civil responsibility, and Intellectual Property, Journal of Modern Technologies Law, 6(11): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.22133/mtlj.2024.433651.1284
Tabatabaei, Seyyed Mohammad Sadeq,  Amini, Mohammad (2025), The dynamics of Imamia jurisprudence in the possibility of accepting "legal personality" for artificial intelligence, Journal of Research and Development in Private Law, 2(3): 183-215. https://doi.org/10.22034/jpl.2025.721261
Abbasi, Mahmoud, Teymouri, Mehrdad (2024a), Identifying Artificial Intelligence Cyber Security Challenges In Smart Medicine, Health Law Journal, 2(2) :1-10. http://healthlawjournal.ir/article-1-61-fa.html
Abbasi, Mahmoud, Teymouri, Mehrdad (2024b), Artificial Intelligence Digital Ethics Challenges and Feasibility of Liability Insurance for Artificial Intelligence-Based System, Quarterly Journal of "Government and Law" (QGL), 5(15): 31-44. https://www.ensani.ir/fa/article/579544/
Elioon, Kazem, Parvin, Khairollah, Seraji, Mostafa (2024), Realization of Distributive Justice with the Approach of Intelligence or Artificial Intelligence, Journal of Modern Technologies Law, 5(10): 199-214. https://doi.org/10.22133/mtlj.2024.418104.1250
Mohebalrahman, Mohammadali (2023), Study of the Status and Independence of Attorney-at-Law Based on Jurisprudential Principles and History of Jurisprudence, Legal Research Quarterly,  25(attorney standards), 265-286. https://doi.org/10.52547/jlr.2023.229889.2399
Mansoori, Frangis (2025), Cookies and the ability to invade privacy in cyberspace, Journal of Modern Technologies Law, 6(11): 377-395. https://doi.org/10.22133/mtlj.2025.467629.1352
Mehrafza, Mohammadreza, Zargar, Afshin, Habibi Dargah, Behnam (2018), Artificial Intelligence and International Commercial Arbitration, Journal of Iranian and International Comparative Legal Research, 11(42): 331-352. https://sanad.iau.ir/journal/alr/Article/673049?jid=673049
Yaghoti, Ebrahim,  Nakhjvani, Ali (2023), Legal status of Transactions Done by Artificial Intelligence: Virtual Lawyer Theory, Journal of Economic and Commerical Law Researches 1(1): 41-68. https://doi.org/10.48308/eclr.2023.103363
Al abady, H. S (2023). Organizing the work of the smart electronic lawyer in litigation. Journal of Namibian Studies History Politics Culture. 33(1), 1-10. DOI:10.59670/jns.v33i.757
Brooks C, Gherhes C, Vorley, T (2019). Artificial intelligence in the legal sector: pressures and challenges of transformation. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society. 13(1), 135–152. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsz026
Cath C, Wachter S, Mittelstadt B, Taddeo M, Floridi L (2018). Artificial Intelligence and the ‘Good Society’: the US, EU,and UK approach. Science and engineering ethics. 1;24(2), 505-528. DOI: 10.1007/s11948-017-9901-7
Coyne, KP (1986). Sustainable competitive advantage—What it is, what it isn’t, Business Horizons, 29(1), 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-6813(86)90087-X
Da Silva, M, Horsley, T, Singh, D, Da Silva, E, Ly, V, Thomas, B.C. Daniel, R, Chagal‑Feferkorn, K. A, Iantomasi, S, White, K, Kent, A and Flood, C. M (2022). Legal concerns in health‑related artificial intelligence: a scoping review protocol, Journal of Systematic Reviews11(1), 1-8. DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-01939-y
Ford, M (2015). The Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of Mass Unemployment. One World, London. https://www.uc.pt/feuc/citcoimbra/Martin_Ford-Rise_of_the_Robots
Hildebrandt, M (2018). Law as computation in the era of artificial legal intelligence: Speaking law to the power of statistics. University of Toronto Law Journal 68(1), 12–35. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2983045
Lehr D, Ohm, P (2017). Playing with the Data: What Legal Scholars Should Learn About Machine Learning. 51 U.C.D. L. Rev. 653, 669. https://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15026/files/media/documents/51-2_Lehr_Ohm.pdf
Lupo G, Carnevali D (2021).Lawyers and Smart Technologies: Experiences of Apps’ Development in a Justice Environment. Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems, National Research Council of Italy. 30(49), 177-189. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3049/Paper18.pdf
McGinnis J, Pearce, R (2014). The Great Disruption: How Machine Intelligence Will Transform the Role of Lawyers in the Delivery of Legal Services. 82 Fordham L. Rev. 3041 https://ir.lawnet.for dham.edu/flr/vol82/iss6/16 Accessed 25 February 2021.
Murphy, K (2012) Machine Learning: A Probabilistic Perspective. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kerasking/book-1/master/ML%20Machine%20Learning-A%20Probabilistic%20Perspective.pdf
O'Leary D. L (2021). “Smart” Lawy t” Lawyering: Integr ering: Integrating T ating Technology Competence int echnology Competence into the Legal Practice Curriculum. Journal of University of New Hampshire Law Review. 19(2), 197-272. https://scholars.unh.edu/unh_lr/vol19/iss2/2
Siedel G, Haapio H (2010). Using proactive law for competitive advantage. American Business Law Journal, 47(4), 641–686. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1664561
 Surden, H (2019). Artificial Intelligence and Law: An Overview. 35 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 1305 https:// scholar.law.colorado.edu/articles/1234 Accessed 8 March 2021.
Vaishya R, Javaid M, Khan I,H, Haleem A (2020). Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for COVID-19 pandemic. Diabetes Metab Syndr Clin Res Rev 14(1), 337–339. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.04.012