In 2023, a New York lawyer submitted a legal brief citing several compelling court cases to support his client’s position. There was just one problem: the cases didn’t exist. The lawyer had used the AI platform ChatGPT to research the law, and the AI had invented them. The judge was not amused, and the lawyer faced sanctions. It was one of the first widely reported misuses of AI in court.
Stories like this have become more common as artificial intelligence reshapes the legal profession. Here in North Carolina, this technology is arriving at a critical moment — one that could either help address our state’s access-to-justice crisis or make it worse.
AI as a legal assistant
Artificial intelligence can help lawyers work faster by drafting early versions of legal documents, summarizing lengthy records, and conducting preliminary research. These efficiencies could be transformative.
But North Carolina’s Rules of Professional Conduct, which regulate attorney conduct, make one thing clear: the lawyer, not the AI, is always responsible for the final product. A lawyer must check every fact, every legal citation, and every recommendation before filing anything with a court. Lawyers must also protect client confidentiality, which means they cannot share sensitive information with AI tools that may not keep it secure. AI might be a powerful assistant, but it cannot replace human judgment or accountability.
Reaching legal deserts
The promise of AI feels especially urgent in rural North Carolina. Forty-eight of our state’s 100 counties are a “legal desert,” meaning they have fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents. If you live in Hyde County or Tyrrell County, finding a lawyer within reasonable driving distance can be genuinely difficult. The situation is so dire that Chief Justice Paul Newby has called upon the Commission on Professionalism to prioritize the issue of legal deserts.
AI tools could help bridge this gap by providing basic legal information, assisting people in understanding court processes, and guiding them through the completion of forms. Non-profit legal services organizations, which struggle with high demand and limited funding, may be able to use AI to screen cases more efficiently and serve more clients. For someone in a rural county trying to navigate a property rights dispute or a family court matter, an AI-powered tool might be the difference between getting help and giving up.
The risks
But this technology creates real challenges. Courts around the country are already seeing an increase in filings that rely heavily on AI-generated text — some containing incorrect citations, nonexistent cases, or confusing arguments that run on for pages. North Carolina judges may soon face the same problem, which means courts will have to spend more time reviewing documents just to verify whether they’re accurate. While AI can increase access to legal information, it can also place new burdens on a court system that is already stretched thin.
The situation in rural North Carolina is particularly delicate. AI has the potential to lessen the impact of legal deserts, but technology alone cannot solve the deeper structural challenges that keep these communities underserved. Nearly one in six North Carolinians cannot purchase a fiber internet plan. If AI-powered legal tools require strong internet connections, they could end up helping those who already have the most access while leaving the most vulnerable residents behind.
What comes next
AI is a tool, and like any tool, its value depends on how it’s used. When lawyers use it responsibly, AI can reduce costs and make the legal system more accessible and less intimidating. When used carelessly, it can spread misinformation and erode trust in the courts.
As this technology becomes more common, North Carolina will need clear guidelines. Courts should consider requiring lawyers to disclose when they’ve used AI to draft filings. Bar associations should offer training on how to use these tools ethically. State leaders should ensure that efforts to expand AI access go hand in hand with investments in infrastructure and support for rural legal services.
The future of AI in the legal system will depend on whether we can strike a balance — one that preserves accountability, protects vulnerable communities, and uses technology to enhance, not replace, the human judgment that justice ultimately requires. For the people of North Carolina who need legal help but cannot afford it or find it, that balance matters more than we might think.