strict guidelines
Aspiring judges can now use artificial intelligence (AI) tools when applying to join juries, after the Judicial Appointments Commission published guidance setting out what is and is not allowed.
The JAC confirmed this week that AI can be used in self-assessments and when creating and considering examples of personal skills and abilities, as long as potential jurors “take full responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of all material submitted”.
Acceptable uses include running drafts you’ve written through AI to improve grammar, clarity, and structure, using AI to identify major themes and strengths in already written content, and checking whether drafts flow and are cohesive. Candidates can also use AI to summarize long documents that they have personally written.
However, the guidance specifies that AI “must not create substantive content, replace or inaccurately exaggerate an individual’s experience.” Applicants may not use this to fabricate examples of judicial, legal, or professional experience, fabricate or embellish roles or accomplishments, or rewrite genuine experience in a way that exaggerates their abilities.
When it comes to “live evaluations”, the rules are even stricter. The JAC says the use of AI in qualification exams is “expressly prohibited” and candidates must not use AI to draft or revise answers on selection days, situational assessment tests, critical analysis exercises, or interviews. Selected materials should not be input into the AI tool at any stage of the process.
The JAC, which is responsible for selecting judges in England and Wales, has warned that its assessment tools are designed to assess “candidates’ information analysis, independent reasoning, judgment and integrity” and that using AI in such a context would undermine that purpose.
Candidates who violate the policy will face serious consequences. The JAC said evidence of a violation would be “considered an issue of integrity” and could result in disqualification from the current and future exercises and referral to the candidate’s professional regulatory body.
It’s not just judges who are said to be allowed to use AI, but also aspiring lawyers. While some companies have adopted strict rules against its use, Shoesmiths is one of many companies to adopt the technology for holiday schemes and training contract applications, albeit with clear guidelines in place, much like JAC’s own approach.
