The Legal Lens: Episode 4
Next-Gen Law: AI & Legal Tech At Work
- Guest: CS Vandana Bhatia, Director – Legal & Compliance, Ryan
- Host: Dr. Himanshu Puri, Co-Founder, Legitquest
In this episode, we’re joined by CS Vandana Bhatia, an award-winning professional with over 15 years of experience across Corporate and Labour Laws, as well as Secretarial and Legal functions.
She has worked extensively on regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and strategic legal advisory, helping organizations navigate complex legal frameworks with precision and insight.
Currently serving as Head – Secretarial & Legal at Ryan India Tax Services Private Limited, Vandana brings a unique blend of corporate law expertise and forward-thinking leadership — making her an ideal voice to discuss how technology and AI are transforming the legal ecosystem.
Next-Gen Law: AI & Legal Tech At Work
1. Introduction
We kick off with an overview of Legitquest and The Legal Lens podcast, setting the stage for a deep dive into the evolving world of law. Vandana shares her professional journey and her growing engagement with technology in legal functions.
2. The Legal Shift
We explore how the legal landscape has undergone significant changes over the years. The rising influence of AI and legal technology is highlighted, showcasing how they are reshaping legal professionals’ work, communication, and decision-making processes.
3. Real-World Impact
We examine practical use cases where AI has improved accuracy, speed, and compliance. Examples of automation reducing manual work in documentation, contract management, and compliance tracking are presented.
4. The Challenges Ahead
We discuss the trust deficit in AI adoption and address challenges such as data privacy, cost, ethical concerns, and mindset barriers. Vandana transitions to Legitquest’s work in AI-powered legal research and case management.
5. AI: Threat or Enabler?
We engage in a candid debate on whether AI replaces legal jobs or empowers professionals to undertake higher-value work. Vandana provides insights on how legal teams can reskill and upskill to stay relevant in this rapidly changing landscape.
6. The Education Shift
We explore how law schools and bar councils can integrate AI and legal technology into their curriculum. Vandana emphasises the importance of the next generation of lawyers understanding data, automation, and digital ethics.
7. The Next 5 Years
Vandana shares her predictions on which legal domains, such as contract management, legal drafting, dispute analytics, and compliance monitoring, will experience the most disruption in the next five years. We also discuss how AI tools will evolve from supporting to co-creating legal workflows, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
8. AI in Judiciary
We delve into the potential of AI to help reduce case pendency in Indian courts. Vandana explores the challenges of balancing speed with fairness, transparency, and judicial oversight in AI-assisted justice systems.
9. Defining the Next-Gen Lawyer
Vandana concludes the episode with her reflections on what defines a “Next-Gen Lawyer.” She emphasises the importance of blending legal acumen with technological fluency, strategic thinking, and adaptability in shaping the future of legal practice.
Key Takeaways
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The legal industry is undergoing a paradigm shift, moving from paper-heavy workflows to AI-assisted intelligence and automation. AI is not replacing lawyers; instead, it augments their ability to make informed, faster, and data-backed decisions. Legal education and organisational culture must evolve together to enable responsible AI adoption. Platforms like Legitquest, through tools such as LIBIL and AI-powered legal research, are shaping the foundation of a more efficient and transparent legal ecosystem.
The “Next-Gen Lawyer” is not just a legal expert; they are a tech-aware, data-driven, and innovation-led professional ready to lead the future of law.
