We’ve all seen the movie.

The dodgy witness is getting away with it until the wily lawyer mauls their evidence in the witness box, thanks to long nights preparing for just that moment.

There are tears of joy and a judge banging a gavel (only in American courts, mind). The post-script tells us that the case made the world a better place.

Not so fast.

Every day there are legal battles that the little man or woman loses. And very often they lose because they can’t cannot afford to fight their corner against a wealthier opponent.

This is where artificial intelligence, the most talked-about subject of the last two years, could transform justice and fairness in society.