Ulster University’s Centre for Legal Technology (CLT) has secured new funding from Responsible AI UK to lead a major research project focused on improving trust, transparency, and accountability in the use of Artificial Intelligence across the justice system.
As AI becomes a routine part of legal work – from analysing evidence to assessing risk – courts and legal professionals face a critical challenge: how to ensure AI-supported decisions are fair, lawful, and worthy of public trust, while avoiding the disclosure of sensitive personal or legal data.
Backed by targeted project funding of £20,000, the research will explore how emerging cryptographic techniques can support trustworthy AI use in legally sensitive environments, enabling greater transparency and oversight without compromising privacy.
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Commenting on the award, Dr Vimal Dwivedi, Associate Director of the CLT at Ulster University, said:
“AI is already shaping how legal services operate and how justice-related decisions are supported. The CLT exists to ensure that innovation in this area is trustworthy, lawful, and aligned with public values. This project allows us to explore practical ways to verify AI fairness and compliance without compromising privacy, while bringing judges, lawyers, technologists, and policymakers into the same conversation.”
A Responsible AI UK representative added:
“This project represents an important step toward developing tools that enable rigorous oversight without compromising privacy or legal confidentiality. We are delighted to support Ulster University’s Centre for Legal Technology in advancing innovative approaches that can help build public confidence in responsible AI adoption across such a vital area of public life.”
The project focuses on the use of advanced cryptographic tools known as zero knowledge proofs. Put simply, these allow an AI system to demonstrate that it behaves responsibly – for example by treating groups fairly or handling data correctly – without revealing private information or exposing its inner processes.
This approach could open the door to meaningful, independent oversight of AI systems while still protecting confidentiality and the rights of the people whose information is involved.
Led by Dr Vimal Dwivedi, the project brings together computer scientists, legal scholars, judges, practitioners, policymakers, and industry partners from across the UK and Europe. The CLT will act as the central hub for coordinating technical research with real world legal and regulatory needs.
A core focus of the Centre’s role is to ensure that the research remains grounded in the realities of the justice system. Through direct engagement with courts, legal professionals, and public sector stakeholders, the CLT will help translate complex technical ideas into practical governance models, guidance frameworks, and policy relevant evidence.
Planned project activities include a multi-partner workshop hosted at Ulster University, international research exchanges with European collaborators, and the development of early guidance materials aimed at judicial users, regulators, and technology providers.
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Tim Brundle, Director of Research & Impact, Ulster University added:
“At Ulster University, we are committed to research that addresses real‑world challenges and delivers public benefit. This award recognises the Centre for Legal Technology’s leadership in shaping how responsible AI can be deployed within complex, sensitive environments such as the justice system.”
This award further strengthens Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for legal technology research and positions Ulster University’s CLT at the forefront of responsible AI innovation for the justice system.
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