Justice has changed since lockdown
It used to be simple. If you had a legal issue, you went to a building. Judges, barristers, juries, probation officers and the people involved were all in one room.
Then the Covid lockdowns happened, and we all learned how much we could do from home. Many hearings moved to video, people met their advisers on screen, and bundles of paperwork became emails and uploads.
In some ways, that helped. Fewer unnecessary meetings. Less travelling. Less paper.
In other ways, it made things harder. If you have ever stared at a court form and thought "what do they actually want from me?", you are not alone. It can be confusing, especially when so much advice online now comes from AI tools that sound confident but are not always right.
Video hearings are not right for everyone, either. They can be especially hard when a family matter is sensitive, when someone feels vulnerable, or when a person does not have a good device, a reliable connection or a quiet, private space at home.
That is why we think mediation matters more now than ever.
What about AI in the justice system?
There is no single "AI Act" in the UK. The protections you already have still apply, including your data rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, and your right to a fair hearing under the Human Rights Act 1998.
In July 2025 the Ministry of Justice published an AI Action Plan for Justice. It looks at using AI for tasks such as transcription, handling cases and assessing risk. In its one-year update, published in September 2026, it added a new priority: spotting and responding to the emerging risks that AI brings to the justice system. But one principle is clear: AI should support, not replace, human judgement.
For families and neighbours in a dispute, that is reassuring. The important decisions are still made by people.
Mediation keeps it human
- You don't always need to go to court. Many disagreements can be talked through calmly, often remotely, without long exchanges of formal letters.
- We focus on what matters. Not endless bundles of paper, but a clear, fair agreement you both understand.
- You get to be heard. Not by a chatbot, but by a neutral person who listens, keeps things balanced, and explains the process in plain English.
AI can draft a letter. It cannot hear how tired or worried you are. It cannot sense when someone needs a pause.
Feeling stuck with paperwork?
If you don't know what to file, how to word an agreement, or what the court expects now that so much has moved online, please do ask for help. You don't have to work it out alone, and you don't have to rely on AI and hope it is right.
At Lexaura Mediation, we offer practical support with paperwork, simply and carefully, so you can move forward with less stress. We are not a law firm and we don't give legal advice; if your situation needs a solicitor or another kind of help, we can point you towards colleagues who may be able to help.
If you would like to talk things through, a free 15-minute first call is a gentle place to start.
Sources
- Data Protection Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Human Rights Act 1998, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Ministry of Justice: AI Action Plan for Justice, July 2025 (GOV.UK)
- Ministry of Justice: AI Action Plan for Justice, one year on, September 2026 (GOV.UK)