The Law Show

Could Artificial Intelligence be used by judges in our courts - and even help make legal decisions?
It's a technology that's already being adopted by legal systems in other parts of the world, including a court in the Chinese city of Shenzhen where it is has helped judges navigate over 600,000 small claims cases. Other countries are more cautious, and maintain that AI should never replace human judicial decisions.
What are acceptable uses of AI in the judicial system, and what areas should be off limits? So far, in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, there have been AI pilots for legal administrative work and transcription services. In England and Wales, there are also plans for AI legal assistants to help with routine casework and help judges decide which cases are ready to be heard in court.
It's an issue which has been considered by Sir Geoffrey Vos - the recently retired Master of the Rolls, Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales. He speaks to Joelle about his findings and how he thinks we the legal system could benefit from AI - and the areas he thinks should be off limits.
Plus: is it illegal to buy the books of Irish author Sally Rooney, since she made public that she would like to donate her royalties to the proscribed group Palestine Action? The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, explains the law.

Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan
Producer: Ravi Naik
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Contributors:
Retired Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, former Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales
Jonathan Hall KC, from 6KBW College Hill, the goverment's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation

So-called blitz courts are being expanded across England and Wales.
A number of courts across the two countries have been holding regular blitz hearings since April. Multiple cases are heard every day instead of just one, and are grouped by type. A set of plea hearings might be scheduled together in one blitz court, and sentencing hearings at another.
Blitz courts increase efficiency by making sure that all the parties concerned are ready and prepared for their day in court.
They are not a new idea. Rapid hearings are sometimes used to speed up justice in exceptional circumstances, such as after the 2011 summer riots in England, which saw large numbers of public disorder hearings.
It's part of plans by the Ministry of Justice to try to cut court delays and backlogs in England and Wales, which have reached record levels.
But will they help ease the crisis in the criminal courts?
Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan
Producers: Ravi Naik and Ivana Davidovic
Editor: Damon Rose
Contributors
BBC news correspondent Adina Campbell
Riel Karmy-Jones, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association
Joanne Edwards, a solicitor from Forsters who's on the National Committee of Resolution, the Family Lawyers Association.

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 is in the King’s Speech which means it’s on the Government’s legislative agenda and is going through Parliament.
The Bill covers parliamentary ballots cross the UK, and contains sweeping changes, including giving 16 and 17 year-olds the right to vote in a general election and referendums.
The Bill also aims to strengthen the rules around political donations. Giving money to a political party is completely legal, if you are on the UK electoral register, are a UK registered company or UK-registered organisation, but is there a limit on the size of your contribution? Can you be an anonymous donor or pay in cryptocurrency? How are the laws about political party funding being tightened up?
And what about individual MPs? Are they allowed to receive personal donations, and do they have to declare them?
Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan
Producers: Ravi Naik and Ivana Davidovic
Editor: Damon Rose
Contributors:
Dr Sam Power, Lecturer at Bristol University, and an expert in political financing, electoral regulation and corruption.
Hannah Perry, Interim Director of Demos Digital, a cross-party pro-democracy think tank
Joanne Wheeler, Managing Partner at Alden legal, and a leading international expert in the field of satellite and space law.

Note: this episode contains frequent references to rape, sexual assault and physical assault.
There's been public confusion and outrage over the sentences given to three teenage boys, who were convicted of rape.
In November 2024 and January 2025, two girls, then aged 15 and 14, were attacked in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, by two 14-year-olds. Another boy, then 13, was also convicted for his involvement in the second rape.
The teenage boys were given youth rehabilitation orders and walked out of court with 10 rape convictions between them.
The Prime Minister says the case will be referred to the Court of Appeal. He described the case as distressing and said "there are questions about the sentence". One of the girls who was raped told the BBC that the judge's decision was like a "rock straight in my face".
So what are the likely reasons why the three teenage boys were given non-custodial sentences?
What is the guidance around youth sentencing, and what are youth rehabilitation orders?
How do youth courts - and youth custody - work, and how does the system differ from the adult courts in England and Wales?
And does the adversarial nature of our criminal justice system lead to vulnerable victims being re-traumatised?
Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan
Producers: Ravi Naik and Ivana Davidovic
Editor: Damon Rose
Contributors:
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales
Dr Charlotte Proudman, a barrister who specialises in family law and human rights
Dr Kathy Hampson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Aberystwyth University

The Renter’s Rights Act came into force at the start of May, and it marked the biggest change to how private rentals work in England in a generation.
There are a host of new protections and legal entitlements for renters, and many potential pitfalls for landlords to consider.
Assured shorthold tenancies have been abolished, and have automatically been converted into rolling tenancies - sometimes known as ‘assured periodic tenancies’.
It means that the tenancy has no automatic end date.
Section 21 notices - also known as "no fault" evictions have been abolished, and Landlords are not allowed to ask for more than 1 months' rent as a deposit. Bidding wars for rental properties are now forbidden, and there are measures to limit rent increases.
But it doesn't apply to all renters in all properties.
What about students? They all rent, but only some students are covered by the Act.
And if landlords don't follow the new laws carefully, they could face fines of thousands of pounds.
So what are the details that property owners and their tenants need to know?
Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan
Producer: Ravi Naik
Editor: Damon Rose
Contributors:
Siobhan Taylor-Ward, a Housing Solicitor at Lawstop on the Wirral
Nermin Suleman, an associate solicitor at Prosperity Law in Manchester
Tim Wrigley a partner at Wrigley’s Solicitors in Leeds