Using AI in administrative tribunals: A grounded “scan” of use cases

This project will explore how actors within the administrative justice system imagine potential AI use cases in tribunals over the next decade. 

Why this project is important

Tribunals are an essential part of the administrative justice system, resolving over 300,000 appeals each year. Given the large volume of ‘routine’ disputes tribunals manage, pressure on the justice budget, and continuing accessibility challenges, there are arguments that using AI in tribunals could lead to a more efficient, accessible system that delivers better user outcomes.

Government bodies and the judiciary, including those in the devolved nations, are in the earliest stages of considering how to translate the general promise of AI into concrete planning and implementation. However, there is little evidence to inform such deliberations.

What the research will involve

This evidence gap raises multiple questions, including: what is the universe of possible use cases of AI in administrative tribunals from the perspective of those within the system? The research team will address this question using a qualitative, socio legal methodology focused on gathering first hand perspectives from actors within the tribunal system. The research will involve:

• 30 – 40 semi structured interviews with tribunal users, advice providers, tribunal administrators, and judges. Participants will be recruited purposively to ensure a diverse sample across jurisdictions, backgrounds and levels of experience with both tribunals and AI.
• Thematically analysing interview data to identify discrete AI use cases that participants believe could feasibly arise within the next decade and clustering these into broader functional themes with a view to generating an evidence based thematic map of potential AI applications.
• Two online workshops – one with AI experts and one with experts from the justice system – to present draft findings and conduct an initial assessment of the plausibility of the emerging use cases.

How the research will make a difference 

Findings will be directly shared with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Justice, judicial offices, and tribunal administrators. A follow-up survey will evaluate stakeholders’ utilisation of the research findings.