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AI & access to justice

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Frontline legal services have the most to gain from artificial intelligence, but also face unique challenges in its provision, write Emily Carter & Sahil Kher

The judgment of the Divisional Court in R (Ayinde) v London Borough of Haringey [2025] EWHC 1383 (Admin) has generated significant interest within the legal community. Although the court determined that the reliance upon ‘fake’ citations did not justify commencing contempt proceedings on the specific facts of these two cases, the court’s concern was clear. As Dame Victoria Sharp P said in her judgment: ‘There are serious implications for the administration of justice and public confidence in the justice system if artificial intelligence [AI] is misused.’

Although the headlines in the legal press about these cases have focused upon fake case citations, the risks posed by AI within litigation are much broader. Generative AI is now embedded in many publicly available search tools, as well as legal research platforms. Fake citations may be linked to fake judgments; inaccuracies in emphasis or

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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