Bruce: Exciting development
AI is fast becoming a vital part of how law firms can afford to carry out legal aid work, according to the practice director of the country’s largest legal aid practice.
Away from the stories of big City firms’ investment in AI, a growing number of legal aid lawyers are using it at various stages in their casework.
The hope is that it will help secure the financially viability of legal aid work for firms across the country.
In January, Duncan Lewis introduced Lexis Nexis AI system Protégé to its 220 lawyers and also appointed an AI governance lead to oversee the technology’s use.
Practice director Jason Bruce said lawyers in all departments have access to the AI, but they expected the technology would be most valuable in high-volume legal aid matters, helping to improve efficiency and access to justice for vulnerable clients.
In housing, it was helping lawyers be more proactive in cases and develop stronger legal arguments.
Miranda Quashie, a trainee solicitor at the firm, said: “AI has significantly enhanced the effectiveness and quality of my work, especially for vulnerable clients in housing matters, by streamlining administrative tasks and enabling rapid access to relevant legal resources.”
“This is critical given the severe funding and time constraints often experienced whilst working in housing law. It enables me to instantly research vast databases of case law, legislation and housing precedents for swift assessment on claims like housing disrepair or eviction defences.”
Immigration solicitor Gabor Nagy added that he found it “particularly” useful: “After redacting the clients’ details and uploading the Home Office decision letter, AI can accurately summarise the key points.
“This allows me to carry out a merits assessment for a potential onward appeal far more efficiently, eliminating the need to manually review extensive Home Office documentation.”
Mr Bruce said: “Over the years, because of the cuts to public funding, we have got used to finding efficiencies and cost savings in all areas of our legal aid work, so that we can continue to help vulnerable people in society.
“But through AI, we can already see that our lawyers can save time, on drafting documents, legal research and knowledge retrieval for example, which gives our lawyers more time to work on strategy or to be with the client.”
Mr Bruce, a solicitor-advocate who joined Duncan Lewis as an immigration caseworker in 2001, said AI was also proving to be a powerful training tool for young lawyers.
“We are very proud of our position as the largest provider of legal aid services in the UK. We’ve been dedicated to legal aid work since we began in 1998.
“So to see AI helping legal aid lawyers today, assisting them in their work – and that is how it is, AI assists lawyers, who remain at the heart of their cases, working closely with their clients – it’s very exciting.
“It’s early days, but the results and the feedback shows that AI saves you time and costs, which will always be vital in legal aid work.”