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20 February 2026
Issue: 8150 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence , In Court , Technology
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NLJ this week: Justice at the algorithm’s edge

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is already embedded in the civil courts, but regulation lags behind practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Ben Roe of Baker McKenzie charts a landscape where AI assists with transcription, case management and document handling, yet raises acute concerns over evidence, advocacy and even judgment-writing

Courts have warned that generative AI tools ‘are not capable of conducting reliable legal research’, while a Civil Justice Council working group considers further guidance.

Roe explores proposals for AI-assisted decision-making in low-value claims, balanced against Art 6 and legitimacy concerns.

While AI may ease backlogs and enhance efficiency, the symbolic authority of a human judge remains potent. The question is no longer whether AI will shape litigation, but on what terms.

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NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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