UK to Trial AI-Powered Legal Assistants in Crown Courts to Tackle Record Backlog

The UK government will trial artificial intelligence-powered legal assistants in Crown Courts as it seeks to reduce a record backlog of criminal cases and speed up proceedings. The Ministry of Justice said judges and lawyers will test the AI tools in controlled environments before a wider rollout. The technology will help analyse case files, identify cases ready for trial and group similar hearings together to make better use of court time. Justice Secretary David Lammy is expected to announce the initiative at London Tech Week on Tuesday, describing AI as a tool that can help modernise the justice system and deliver faster outcomes for victims, The Independent reported. The move comes as the Crown Court backlog in England and Wales has climbed above 80,000 cases, more than double the 38,108 cases recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. The government will also introduce an AI transcription tool for probation officers in England and Wales. The system will automatically record and transcribe conversations with offenders, reducing administrative workloads. "Artificial intelligence has the power to transform how we live, work and govern for the better," Lammy said. He added that the technology could help cut court delays while saving thousands of hours of administrative work. The plans have received a cautious welcome from legal bodies. Ian Jeffery, chief executive of the Law Society of England and Wales, said the pilot should be thoroughly evaluated and its findings made public. He stressed that technology should support access to justice but cannot replace investment in courts and staffing. Andrew Thomas KC, vice-chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said AI could handle routine tasks more efficiently but warned that judges and lawyers must understand its limitations. He said criminal cases still require human judgment and careful assessment of evidence, adding that AI should support legal professionals rather than replace them.