The chief executive of the Law Society of England and Wales has stated that the pilot program for AI legal assistants in crown courts must be thoroughly evaluated, with outcomes made public. The plan, announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, aims to reduce the backlog of cases but has prompted warnings from lawyers that technology should not replace essential funding and additional court staff.
AI Assistants to Be Trialled in Crown Courts
David Lammy will announce on Tuesday that AI-powered virtual legal assistants will be trialled in crown courts across England and Wales in an effort to cut the growing backlog of cases. Judges are already planning to use a new AI tool to help identify trial-ready cases and group similar hearings together, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Law Society Raises Concerns
The Law Society, representing over 200,000 solicitors, has emphasised that the technology should not be used to reduce staffing costs. Ian Jeffery, chief executive of the Law Society, said: "For the use of AI in the crown court to be effective, the pilot must be thoroughly evaluated. The outcomes of these evaluations, along with the impact of AI on the justice system, should be made public. While new technology should enhance access to justice, it cannot replace vital funding and additional court staff. Robust safeguards are needed to protect us all and preserve the integrity of the justice system."
Previous AI Incidents in Court
Last year, two cases were affected by fabricated case-law citations, either definitely or suspected to have been generated by AI. In a £89m damages case against Qatar National Bank, claimants made 45 case law citations, 18 of which were fictitious. The claimant admitted using publicly available AI tools. In another case, Haringey Law Centre cited phantom case law five times when challenging the London borough of Haringey over temporary accommodation.
Lammy's Vision for AI in Justice
In a speech at London Tech Week, Lammy will say: "Artificial intelligence has the power to transform how we live, work and govern for the better. This impact for good can be seen in our justice system, with thousands of days of admin work saved for our probation staff and the advent of new tools which aim to cut court backlogs and deliver swifter justice for victims."
Concerns Over AI Hallucinations
There are concerns about the dangers of increasing AI use. A review into the banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from attending a match against Aston Villa in November 2025 found that an "AI hallucination" produced by Microsoft Copilot had helped police justify the decision. A nonexistent game between Tel Aviv and West Ham was referenced in a police report.
Record Backlog of Cases
The number of cases waiting to be dealt with by crown courts in England and Wales hit a record high of over 80,000 this year, more than double the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 38,108. Figures obtained under freedom of information laws showed 2,600 crown court trials were not listed until at least 2028, with 29 not due to be heard until 2030. The government has announced plans to scale back jury trials to overhaul the justice system and cut the backlog.
