From a KTP project to transforming how the legal sector uses AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the legal sector – and researchers at the University are leading the way. Under the leadership of Professor Katie Atkinson, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research, the University has worked with UK law firms to develop explainable AI models that help predict case outcomes and support lawyers in making faster, more consistent decisions.

A key enabler of this industrial innovation strand of our AI and law research was the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme, funded by Innovate UK. Through the KTP, the University partnered with Fletchers Solicitors, one of the UK’s largest medical negligence firms, to co-create a digital assistant that can assess the likelihood of a case’s success within seconds. Based on world-leading research in explainable AI, the tool streamlines case reviews, improves accuracy in assessing cases and widens access to justice.

For us, AI is much more than a buzzword. Working with the University through the KTP made us smarter and helped us deliver faster access to justice. The grant and expertise turbocharged our innovation strategy beyond where we thought we could go.

Dan Taylor, Director of Integration, Fletchers

Two KTP Associates were embedded at Fletchers for three years, supported by University academics. The partnership proved so successful that both Associates were retained, and the company went on to build an  AI and data science team to expand its technology innovations and grow the business.

This pioneering KTP is one of a series of AI collaborations led by Professor Atkinson, including work with top UK Law Firm, Weightmans, where explainable AI tools accurately analysed historic industrial deafness cases and are now being trialled in other areas of law. The research is also expanding into new partnerships, with the recent award of another KTP project with Carpenters, where the project will build an intelligent case allocation tool for use in legal services. At an international level, Professor Atkinon’s team is also building prototype AI tools to assist with processing cases in the European Court of Human Rights, demonstrating further reach and real-world impact development.

Together, these initiatives form part of the University’s AI for Life research frontier – advancing trustworthy, human-centred AI that delivers real social and economic benefit.

I want the research we have conducted to help support law firms and provide better access to justice for the clients of law firms. AI is starting to enable us to get faster, more efficient and demonstrably consistent legal decision making for real benefit to society.

Professor Katie Atkinson, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research - Artificial Intelligence