The government has doubled down on its commitment to greater use of AI in the courtroom, with a minister urging lawyers this is now a key priority.
Courts minister Sarah Sackman spoke at a City of London Law Society conference and made AI a central feature of her appearance.
This came just a few days after Sackman had visited Singapore where she met senior legal, political and technology leaders to promote the UK’s legal sector and lawtech industry.
Sackman told London delegates this week there was ‘no choice’ but to embrace the opportunities that come with bringing artificial intelligence into the court process.
‘I know in law firms you will already be doing just that,’ she said, stressing that there was a risk of falling behind other countries without investment into AI.
‘We are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities that AI presents. The jurisdiction that embraces the opportunities that AI brings – but builds on a bedrock of good governance and the rule of law – can really capture the opportunity.’
The government believes that AI-powered law tech has the potential to cut burdensome bureaucracy, free up valuable court and judicial time, and help deliver swifter justice, but without replacing the crucial human judgment at the heart of the system.
In Singapore, Sackman met with LawNet Technology Services, whose AI-powered legal assistant is now used by around 75% of its lawyers. The Ministry of Justice is now developing a raft of technologies, including a new AI-powered scheduling tool, AI transcription to support parties and judges, and AI-backed mediation software.
The minister added: ‘Technology is transforming justice, helping courts work faster, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and making services more accessible. I want Britain to be at the forefront of that change, harnessing innovation to deliver a booming legal sector.
‘By backing British lawtech, we can unlock billions in growth, attract international investment and secure our country’s competitive edge for years to come.’
The government has also announced it will host a global business and law summit in London in December 2026. This will bring together international business and legal leaders to champion English law as a driver of global commerce, inward investment to the UK and a catalyst for economic growth across the country.
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