AI use by litigants in person creates demands on court, LCJ warns

People representing themselves in court are increasingly using artificial intelligence to build their legal claims, putting significant demands on judges and staff. In her third annual report, the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, said extra case management is often needed to work out what these litigants are actually asking for. While the technology improves access to justice, it also creates new complexities across civil and administrative court lists. In response, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division has issued guidance for people using AI to draft grounds of appeal. Baroness Carr noted that while AI tools for transcription and summarisation could help cut backlogs, human judges will keep strict oversight of all decision-making.