Law students and Citizens Advice Southampton are working together to support people through the civil claims process in Southampton.
A new 'Digital Justice Hub' will see students supporting members of the public through the civil claims process with the help of new innovative legal AI.
The students, from the University of Southampton's Global Legal Clinic, are working with AI legal platform CaseCraft, which provides documentation and case preparation support.
The three-way collaboration between the university, Citizens Advice Southampton and CaseCraft is the first initiative of its kind in the UK.
Third year Law student Cecily Luther, 20, said: "The hub demonstrates the positive impact AI can have on increasing access to justice. It shows how we can keep humans in the loop while using AI as a tool to accelerate aspects of legal procedures, helping make the process of filing claims more accessible for people."
Lois Williams, 20, is in her third year studying European Legal Studies. She said: "Not only is it valuable to our education and experience, but it is also creating a positive social impact. This initiative excites me because it bridges the gap between legal education, emerging technology and access to justice."
Paul England, Service Manager at Citizens Advice Southampton, said: "For many of the people we support, accessing justice can feel complicated, expensive and out of reach. This partnership gives us an opportunity to change that, combining trusted, impartial advice, practical support and technology to help vulnerable people understand their options and take action when something has gone wrong.
"We're proud to work alongside the University of Southampton Global Legal Clinic and CaseCraft.AI to give clients the opportunity to access justice when they otherwise might not have been able to."
Professor Omar Madhloom, Director of the Global Legal Clinic and Pro Bono at the University of Southampton, said: "This partnership is significant because it brings together legal education, trusted community advice, and responsible AI to tackle a practical barrier to justice. It will help more people understand and pursue civil claims with confidence, while giving our students invaluable experience of using emerging technology ethically and effectively in real cases."
Members of the public can access the hub by contacting Citizens Advice Southampton and booking an appointment.
There is no upfront cost, but for successful claims a 10 per cent fee will be charged by CaseCraft, payable upon receipt of funds from the defendant.
