Demand for legal services continues to outpace access, leaving many people without practical ways to get help. Cost is a significant barrier, but court backlogs, procedural complexity, and limited attorney capacity all contribute to a system where access to justice is unevenly distributed. Advances in technology may open up new ways to address these longstanding challenges: In the 2026 Legal Industry Report from 8am™, 79% of legal professionals said technology has improved access to justice over the past decade.
Artificial intelligence is now a routine part of daily practice for most lawyers. Tools that improve drafting, research, and day-to-day workflows can also reduce friction for clients, making it easier to get help sooner and with fewer logistical barriers.
According to the 8am report, that momentum may continue: 76% of legal professionals believe AI could help further narrow the access gap in the years ahead.
Self-service tools reduce barriers to entry
One of the most immediate changes is happening at the start of the legal process. A new generation of self-service tools is helping clients handle their early-stage legal needs without paying attorney rates for every step.
Guided intake systems can walk clients through structured questions, helping them organize the details of their case before speaking with a lawyer. Document assembly tools can generate initial drafts based on that input. Chat-based interfaces, including those integrated into legal aid websites, can answer basic procedural questions and point users toward next steps.
None of these tools replace legal counsel for complex matters, but they lower the cost of entry for individuals navigating straightforward situations, such as simple wills, tenant rights letters, or small claims preparation.
Of the more than 1,300 legal professionals surveyed for the Legal Industry Report, 52% identified the availability of self-service legal tools as a promising opportunity to improve access to justice.
A more streamlined court system
Changes are also taking place within the court system, where complex and inefficient administrative processes often translate into delays and additional cost.
In recent years, e-filing systems and virtual hearings have helped reduce geographic barriers and cut processing times—obstacles that disproportionately affect low-income litigants. A client who doesn’t have to take time off work to attend a hearing, or who can submit documents remotely without navigating complex filing procedures, faces fewer barriers to staying engaged in their case.
AI-powered tools that automate court scheduling, document validation, and case management could further ease administrative bottlenecks that slow proceedings down.
Just over half of Legal Industry Report respondents said remote and virtual court services could help improve access to justice, and 47% see potential for streamlined court procedures to do the same.
More capacity at the firm level
As firms automate administrative tasks, attorneys gain back time to focus on complex legal work, improve responsiveness, and take on additional matters.
That added capacity doesn’t automatically translate into broader access to justice, but it creates the conditions for it, particularly at smaller firms and legal aid organizations where resources are already stretched thin.
Fifty-three percent of legal professionals in the 8am report said that automating routine legal tasks could be a meaningful lever for expanding access to justice.
What progress looks like from here
AI is not a complete solution to the access-to-justice gap, but it can play a practical role in addressing it.
To deploy this technology responsibly, legal professionals will need to look beyond efficiency gains and ask where these tools can remove friction for clients. They’ll also need to recognize the technology’s limitations and avoid inadvertently introducing new forms of exclusion.
8am MyCase offers legal AI tools that help firms improve efficiency and bring structure to everyday work while staying aligned with their professional obligations.
For more data-driven insights on AI adoption, access to justice, and the future of legal practice, download the 2026 Legal Industry Report from 8am.