An AI-powered legal equivalent to NHS 111 could save the government £72m over five years and is part of a bold new vision unveiled by the Law Society to improve access to justice.

The Society has published a blueprint with 14 recommendations for the government and legal sector 'to build a civil justice system that works for everyone'. The recommendations are based on comprehensive work carried out as part of Chancery Lane's pioneering 21st Century Justice project.

Research by the Society found that only one in six people believe the justice system treats people equally, nine in 10 people are without local support in some areas of law, and ‘outdated’ systems are causing county court delays.

In the blueprint document, the government is urged to support the building of a ‘trusted, publicly funded resource and triage tool’ into the civil justice system. To show how easily this could be achieved, the Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority and Access to Justice Foundation, in collaboration with Bangor University, built an employment law tool in less than six months. Using generative AI, the tool assesses a person’s needs and then signposts them to online dispute resolution options ranked by suitability.

Read more

The Society also calls for the ombudsman service to be reformed, with the redress landscape ‘rationalised’ to make it easier for people to navigate.

Recommendations for the legal sector include routinely asking clients if they hold an existing legal expenses insurance policy as a potential option for meeting costs, increasing awareness of before-the-event legal expenses insurance, and greater understanding of unbundled services.

Society president Richard Atkinson said: ‘The justice system is a public service, just like health and education. 21st century justice should work for everyone, regardless of their background or means. Whether it’s fighting eviction, tackling workplace discrimination or dealing with family breakdown, people need legal help they can trust.

‘The government and the legal sector must act on the recommendations of the 21st Century Justice report and improve access to legal support. The project unites voices across sectors to put forward proposals such as an AI consumer tool, investment in legal aid and ombudsman reform.

‘A justice system that works well is a measure of progress and prosperity that affects all of us. Our report puts forward practical solutions to achieve a vision for redefining a fair justice system that works for the common good.’