Former President Ram Nath Kovind urged future lawyers to master modern digital tools and artificial intelligence while keeping their intellect firmly rooted in constitutional values. He said that technology can never replace human conscience or the courage to defend civil liberties.

Delivering the Justice K. Ramaswamy Memorial Lecture on “Legal Profession in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges” at Andhra University’s Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Law on Saturday (November 14, 2026), Mr. Kovind warned against over-reliance on software.

In an era of deepfakes, he stressed that lawyers must verify authentic sources and apply critical thinking, noting that professional credibility cannot be outsourced to AI. He also suggested alumni establish an endowment fund in the joint names of themselves and their spouses, and inaugurated the college’s “Nyaya Bandhu” Pro-Bono Club.

Paying tribute to Justice Ramaswamy as a moral compass who used the law to uplift the marginalised, Vice-Chancellor G.P. Raja Sekhar emphasised keeping higher education accessible to underprivileged youth.

Senior IAS officer and Justice Ramaswamy’s son K. Srinivas, Law College Principal K. Sita Manikyam, Rector P. King, and Registrar K. Rambabu also spoke at the event.