Artificial intelligence will radically change the way we deal with (legal) disputes. And - in the best case scenario - it will Shifting the balance of power. Not because new laws are being written - but because existing laws could finally be applied evenly. And thus for more Justice and subsequently to more Trust will lead to the rule of law.

Legal assessment at the touch of a button

Today, if I have a legal question that concerns me, I open ChatGPT, explain my situation, provide as much context as possible and get an answer within a few minutes. pretty accurate assessment. An assessment that tells me directly what rights I have, which laws are affected, how a court would probably rule and what options for action I can take now.

In most cases, ChatGPT first offers to draft a letter explaining to the other party how I see the matter. Immediately afterwards, they offer to draw up documentation that I can then forward to a lawyer in the next step.

With this I have a Initial legal assessment always ready to hand in my pocket. Without having to call a lawyer, book an appointment or arrange an initial consultation. would have to pay. And I can do that as often as you like make. No matter how big or small the thing I'm discussing may seem to me.

For many people, this is and has always been the biggest hurdle: finding out whether they are entitled to anything at all. have a right. Whether it is okay if the landlord does not repair the elevator for months. Whether an authority can simply make a decision one way or the other. Whether and what options you have to object if a company sends you a nasty letter.

Many people have often backed down so far, instead of demanding their rights. Many have even given in before they have even investigated whether and what they could do in their particular situation. Because they have shied away from having to pay a lawyer or being dragged into court and having a Expensive procedure to have to lead.

But if I can formulate a legally sound argument in seconds in future, the threshold for defending myself against overpowering opponents will drop enormously - whether it's a large rental company like Vonovia or a public authority.

The right is thus more accessible. And thus in the long term fairer.

From privilege to a matter of course

Legal advice has become increasingly important in recent years and decades. has become a privilege. The feeling that you have a much better chance in law if you can afford a better lawyer became more and more present. Or that you had to ask yourself whether you could afford a lawyer at all. And if you couldn't, you often simply had to accept what others decided.

However, artificial intelligence will now correct this imbalance. And with it democratized you the Knowledge about rights and procedures.

Because a democratic constitutional state depends on the people who live in it knowing, applying and demanding their rights.

When law becomes a backdrop, it endangers democracy

For the most part, our laws are really good. But the problem is that in practice they are far too rarely or even incorrectly applied will be. But not because the legislator has failed, but because the people who are supposed to benefit from these laws are often unaware that they could have used them.

This has distorted the system. Because a right that is not perceived is not a right - it is a backdrop.

And the exercise of justice also includes a Understanding the law and a persistently demanding it.

Authorities must be reminded to respect the spirit of the law

How quickly law becomes a backdrop and the Spirit of the law (which is usually described in the first few paragraphs) is reduced to absurdity by its continued, skewed application, is something I experienced first-hand when I was dependent on support from the German Pension Insurance after a long illness. The benefits I was entitled to at the time are described in SGB IX and what this law is there for is clearly stated in the General provisions However, the DRV did not seem to be interested in this and thus actually contradicted what is written in this law. I have a Blog article about the proceedings and their background published.

This doesn't just happen in my specific case - it happens with many laws. But so that we can society as a whole We need to get back to a point where laws do what they are there for, namely: our society fairer we have to learn to demand our rights again.

Artificial intelligence can and will contribute to this. By making precisely this access barrier-free, by providing argumentation support, creating templates, interpreting files and justifying contradictions. By helping us to explain what our rights are and how we can claim them. And then some of this powerlessness disappears. Then the law becomes what it should be again: a Tools for everyone. And that will be enormously good for democracy, cohesion and faith in our constitutional state.

Will the future bring faster decisions?

I am convinced that we will go a huge step further at some point. Namely, when AI not only deals with legal issues assess, but also in many areas decide will - at least pre-decide.

Just imagine that in future, traffic violations will no longer be judged solely by humans, but by systems that automatically evaluate dashcam data. Objectively, comprehensibly, without personal sympathies or daily form. And above all: without waiting time.

At first glance, this sounds technocratic - but at its core, it is deeply just. And would help to ensure that we have a lot more Order and consideration on the roads. And correspondingly less aggressive behavior, less coercion, less harassment, less danger and ultimately, of course, above all: fewer accidents.

And this example could be extended to so many other areas of law. Be it the relationship between landlord and tenant, public authority and citizen, company and customer - the field is almost endless.

We have the laws. We have the rules. What is often lacking today is their consistent, fair application.

Because we have too few people to work on them. And too few people to demand it.

But if AI makes decisions here with neutral precision at some point, it can restore the original spirit of many laws. And then it will finally apply again: equal rights for all.

The end of legal intimidation

All this does not mean that AI is the Humanity from the law. I don't think so and, from today's perspective, I don't hope so either. Real and far-reaching Decisions should always be made by humans in the end. At least until AI has clearly demonstrated that it makes better decisions and does not harm humanity in the process. For me, however, this is not yet an issue.

For me, the issue is that AI will very quickly and with the current status contribute to the Power imbalance in the right. It will help those give them a voice, who have so far remained silent for fear of costs, effort or technical terms. As a result, they have gradually come to see the rule of law as an opponent rather than a supporter.

This is precisely what will ultimately lead to greater social peace - not because there are fewer conflicts, but because the conflicts clearer, faster and fairer be solved.

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