TL;DR

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has confirmed plans to expand AI use across UK courts and tribunals, including transcription, case summarisation and magistrates’ court case progression. Microsoft’s UK CEO described the Ministry of Justice as “one of the fastest-growing adopters of agentic AI.”

AI already in probation and tribunals

Speaking at a Microsoft AI event in London, Lammy outlined how AI is already being used across the justice system. In probation, AI-assisted transcription has recorded more than 150,000 meetings between offenders and officers, saving an estimated 25,000 hours of staff time.

The technology is now being tested in courts and tribunals for transcription, with some judges in the immigration and asylum chamber using it to help formulate notes and write remarks. A separate pilot is running in magistrates’ courts, where AI assists legal advisers and district judges with transcribing material and summarising judgments.

“I want to see more AI initiatives like this, so we’re going to invest more in our in-house justice AI unit,” Lammy said.

Law Society sounds caution

The announcement drew measured pushback from legal professionals. Richard Atkinson, a solicitor and former head of the Law Society, said the profession supports modernisation “provided it enhances access to justice, is reliable and ensures fairness.”

“AI is not, however, a silver bullet to improve the justice system,” Atkinson said. “Where liberty and reputation are at stake, the government must take particular care to safeguard people’s rights and ensure fair processes. All decisions, especially those with serious consequences to people’s lives, must be made by humans.”

The initiative comes against a backdrop of Sky News reporting that at least 21 police forces have continued using Microsoft’s Copilot tool despite known hallucination issues — something Lammy himself had previously criticised.

Looking forward

Lammy also confirmed plans to reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales to address the courts backlog, noting that only 3% of criminal cases currently go before a jury. Microsoft UK CEO Darren Hardman described the Ministry of Justice as “one of the fastest-growing adopters of agentic AI,” pointing to potential for broader transformation across the department. The government plans to increase court sitting days alongside the AI expansion.