A Parliamentary and Scientific Committee event

On 29 April 2025, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, chaired by Stephen Benn, convened to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal profession. The meeting underscored the need for legal practitioners to adapt to the changing technological landscape.

Professor Katie Atkinson from the University of Liverpool opened the session by discussing her team’s AI tool, which predicts legal outcomes with 70% accuracy. She highlighted the crucial issue of current AI systems lacking the ability to explain their reasoning, raising questions about their reliability in legal contexts. Professor Atkinson called for research into automating reasoning processes alongside outcomes.

Christina Blacklaws from LawtechUK, supported by the UK Ministry of Justice, emphasised the importance of innovation in the legal sector. She provided alarming statistics: 11 million individuals in England and Wales face unmet legal needs yearly, while 1.8 million small businesses encounter numerous legal issues. LawtechUK aims to bridge the gap between legal technology and the market, supporting start-ups in enhancing access to legal assistance.

Andrew Cooper of the University of Liverpool addressed environmental challenges and showcased a robotic chemist that completed a PhD in one week. He noted that integrating computer science and chemistry required a decade of research, highlighting the need for rapid advancements. He also discussed plans to use hybrid intelligence in AI-supported laboratories to improve materials innovation.

Lastly, Dr. Jonathan Hague from Unilever described the company’s efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions in chemical production. He noted that AI is transforming product development, resulting in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in products such as Dove Fibre Shield and Persil Eco Boost.

The committee’s discussions highlighted the transformative potential of AI in law and sustainability, urging the legal profession to embrace these advancements while addressing the associated ethical and operational challenges.

Liveryman Eur Ing Samuel Marchant

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee is an All-Party Parliamentary Group funded by Membership – for details go to https://www.scienceinparliament.org.uk/