Judicial review in the age of AI: rise in unrepresented challenges
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Insight Article 02 November 2026 02 November 2026
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UK & Europe
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Tech & AI evolution
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Technology, Outsourcing & Data
Judicial review lets the courts check that decisions made by public bodies are lawful. However, it is not an appeal against the merits of a decision, so even a successful challenge doesn't guarantee the petitioner the outcome they want.
In Scotland, applications by people bringing judicial reviews without legal representation have risen sharply in recent years. The increasing availability of AI appears to be the main driver, making it easier to produce documents that look like legal pleadings and to rely on chatbot responses as if they were legal advice.
Writing for The Scotsman, Alison Tyler considers what this trend means for the courts and for local authorities and public bodies that have to respond to and budget for a growing number of cases. She also asks whether AI is genuinely improving access to justice.
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