Millions of individuals worldwide struggle to understand and assert their legal rights without legal representation. Equalizing Justice examines how AI and other technologies can address this access to justice crisis by providing unrepresented litigants with knowledge and skills traditionally available only through lawyers. This volume takes a needs-first approach, identifying tasks that unrepresented litigants must complete and mapping specific technologies to each task, such as generative AI, computational logic, and document automation. The book highlights real-world applications, demonstrating proven impact, and presents case studies and interviews to explore both the potential positive outcomes and potential challenges of AI for access to justice. Equalizing Justice proves that AI technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to create equitable justice systems serving everyone, not just those who can afford representation, and that legal AI assistants should be treated as a public good accessible to all. In honor of Karl Branting, 100% of the royalties from this book will be donated to a nonprofit organization that uses artificial intelligence to expand access to justice.
‘All too often, discussions on technology’s promise for the underserved are afterthoughts, relegated to the back of books focused on lawyers. An entire volume dedicated to this issue, with authors on the bleeding edge of the industry, is refreshing to see. Bonardi has accomplished something truly inspiring here, and Dr. Branting’s voice and expertise shine through.’
Natalie Anne Knowlton - Associate Director for Legal Innovation, Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession, Stanford Law School
‘Equalizing Justice offers a compelling account of how AI can begin to close the access-to-justice gap - weaving technical depth, global perspective, and real-world case studies with uncommon clarity. It offers a fitting tribute to Karl Branting's vision and an urgent call to action.’
Andrew Perlman - Dean and Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School
‘This book not only offers a much-welcomed comprehensive outlook on how AI can help establish a more equal playing field for self-represented litigants, but it does so while serving as a fitting tribute that honors Karl Branting’s legacy and his aspiration of harnessing AI to help increase access to justice.’
Nicolas Vermeys - Director, Centre de recherche en droit public, Université de Montréal
‘I respected Karl deeply, and this book reflects his disciplined vision at a critical technological threshold. It captures the transition from early generative AI to emerging agentic legal systems, offering the analysis needed to convert rapid technical change into durable institutional progress.’
Dazza Greenwood - Founder, CIVICS.com
‘Equalizing Justice is a must-read for anyone, anywhere seeking to responsibly leverage legal technologies to help unrepresented litigants understand and navigate complex legal systems. A practical access-to-justice roadmap, the book frames legal AI assistants as a public good with untapped potential to increase efficiency, promote fairness, and mitigate systemic inequities.’
Julia Alanen - Justice System Reform Expert
‘Equalizing Justice is a transformative guide to bridging the legal gap for unrepresented litigants. Carrying forward the pioneering vision of my late friend and inspiration, Dr. Karl Branting, it provides an essential roadmap for using AI to democratize justice and empower those in need.’
Amy J. Schmitz - Director, JusticeTech@OhioState
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