The UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched an ambitious three-year Artificial Intelligence Action Plan aimed at transforming how justice is delivered across England and Wales, promising swifter, fairer, and more accessible outcomes while safeguarding human rights and public trust.

The plan, developed in consultation with the judiciary and legal regulators, outlines a strategic and responsible approach to embedding AI in courts, tribunals, prisons, probation services, and victim support. “AI shows great potential to help deliver swifter, fairer, and more accessible justice for all—reducing court backlogs, increasing prison capacity, and improving rehabilitation outcomes as well as victim services,” the MoJ stated.

Central to the strategy are three priorities: strengthening the foundations for AI deployment, embedding AI across the justice system, and investing in people and partnerships. These will be delivered through a phased “Scan, Pilot, Scale” model.

A newly established Justice AI Unit, led by the department’s Chief AI Officer, will coordinate implementation. AI applications are already being piloted in several areas, including transcription tools to ease probation workloads, semantic search to speed up access to legal documents, and citizen-facing assistants to improve public access to legal information.

The MoJ emphasized the importance of transparency, ethics, and legal integrity, noting, “This opportunity must be seized responsibly, ensuring that public trust, human rights, and the rule of law remain central and AI risks are carefully managed.”

To address workforce transformation, the plan includes targeted training, AI fellowships, and internship programs to attract top talent, while ensuring that AI supports—rather than replaces—human judgment. Staff engagement is a key focus, with AI champions and open feedback channels to ensure inclusive adoption.

With initial funding secured and further backing anticipated, the MoJ’s AI rollout is already underway. If successful, the plan could position the UK as a global leader in legal technology innovation while addressing longstanding challenges across the justice system.