The U.S. legal system often struggles to provide legal counsel for millions of Americans in civil cases, which are disputes between individuals or businesses, such as a landlord and a tenant or a bank and a borrower. While everyone in a criminal case — where the government prosecutes an individual — has a constitutional right to a lawyer, no such guarantee exists in civil cases. This lack of legal support has created a significant "justice gap," where many Americans are unable to access the legal help they need to protect their rights in areas like housing, healthcare, and education. Despite growing calls for a "civil Gideon" — a civil right to counsel — the U.S. continues to lag in providing legal services. The country ranks 112th out of 143 nations in terms of access and affordability to civil legal services, a position that has worsened over the past decade. Even with a 6% increase in the number of practicing lawyers, most low-income Americans still face significant barriers to legal help. Studies show that 92% of their civil legal problems go unresolved due to a lack of resources. Nonprofit legal aid organizations help some, but many are turned away because of limited funding and staffing. New technology, particularly AI-powered tools, is emerging as a potential solution to this crisis. Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, there has been a surge in AI tools that offer legal information and assistance. These tools come in two main forms: multipurpose platforms like ChatGPT, which can answer a wide range of questions, and niche tools designed specifically for legal matters, such as those used by Legal Aid of North Carolina to help with child custody or consumer law. Niche AI tools are often more accurate because they are trained on legal data, while multipurpose tools are more accessible and widely used. However, the use of AI in legal matters is not without challenges. Some judges have raised concerns about the rise in self-represented litigants — people without lawyers — who are increasingly filing lawsuits with the help of AI. While this increased access to legal information is promising, it also raises questions about the quality of the advice and the ability of individuals to navigate complex legal processes. Additionally, there are legal restrictions known as the unauthorized practice of law (UPL), which prevent non-lawyers, including AI, from offering legal advice. These rules are in place to ensure that people receive competent and ethical legal help, but they may also limit the potential benefits of AI in addressing the justice gap.