In an average quarter, employment tribunals across the UK process as many as 13,000 new single claims, with the volume of new claims having spiked by over 50% year-on-year. For UK workers, access to justice through these bodies is critical for addressing breaches of workers’ rights and employment law, but many are impeded by the cost and complexity of this process.
To assist workers in accessing necessary legal resources and upholding their rights in modern workplaces, novel tools and services are being introduced by commercial organisations. With this in mind, below we explore how Unwildered is changing access to UK employment law by using artificial intelligence to bridge the access to justice gap for professionals across the UK.
Common Barriers to Justice in UK Employment Law
For the average employee, accessing and navigating UK employment law can be challenging. Without organisational support, citizens can face hurdles related to the cost of representation, the complexity of the legal system and the time-sensitive nature of filing and pursuing a claim.
Access to Legal Aid
For common disputes like unfair dismissal, discrimination and unpaid wages cases, securing traditional legal aid is typically not a realistic option for workers. While workers do not need to pay fees to file or submit claims through employment tribunals, they can incur costs related to finding representation and general preparation, which can prevent many from pursuing claims.
System Complexity
The legal frameworks associated with UK employment law can be difficult to understand and navigate for the average employee. For individuals who cannot afford private representation, trying to build an operational understanding of the key terms, processes and requirements that drive claims forward can be overwhelming, for many, this can form an insurmountable hurdle.
Time and Resource Constraints
Filing a claim with an employment tribunal is typically subject to strict time limits, with workers required to submit their claim within three months of the initial incident. This, in combination with the significant resource strains associated with securing evidence, identifying supporting information and completing ET1 forms can be difficult for citizens without professional support.
Unwildered: Improving Access to Justice in UK Employment Law
Unwildered is an AI for employment law product designed to make access to justice and legal information easier for the average person. Unwildered’s chat product, Caira, uses large language model to provide instant legal support to users when asked questions. Other features include drafting statements, understanding documents and filling in forms.
At an affordable £15/month, Unwildered users gain access to the following features.
Personalised Claim Support
Through Unwildered’s core AI solution, Caira, users can receive actionable, plain language answers to personalised legal queries backed by up-to-date legal documentation. Caira has access to over 10,000 legal documents relevant to English and Welsh law, meaning that when a user submits a query about a legal matter, they can instantly receive an accurate response.
Caira can guide users through complex situations such as unfair dismissal and discrimination claims in a streamlined and personalised manner. Using artificial intelligence, the solution can explain next steps for preparing personalised cases using practical, step-based language and, as the AI remembers past conversations, users can manage claims around personal schedules.
Instant Document Analysis
Unwildered makes understanding the mechanisms of and filling out important employment tribunal forms accessible to the average citizen. Caira’s AI model helps users to identify the exact forms and documents that they need to complete, receive guidance on how to present information correctly and have forms reviewed in compliance with up-to-date employment law.
Users can upload a wide range of documents directly to the platform and have complex legal terms explained in easy-to-understand language. Whether citizens need help with completing ET1 forms, collecting and presenting supporting documents or simply ensuring all evidence is secured in the same space, Unwildered’s AI-powered tools provide tailored, practical support.
Automated Document Drafting
Unwildered helps employees to mitigate time-management challenges in access to justice by providing real-time document drafting support. Users can submit required information in plain language through the platform on any computer or smart device, then receive a formal draft in a matter of seconds in order to sidestep the lengthy delays associated with traditional services.
Caira’s powerful AI model can also automate the creation of formal correspondence between employees, employers and legal entities. Users can use the service to ensure correspondence relating to legal claims remains professional and succinct, as well as draft formal documents and correspondence for wider situations such as reasonable accommodation request letters.
Final Thoughts
For the average person, access to justice in UK employment law can be costly, complex and time-consuming. Many workers lack the resources required to secure professional support from traditional legal representatives, making it difficult to understand rights and pursue claims.
To help bridge the access to justice gap, platforms like Unwildered are being introduced to the public. With the power of artificial intelligence, Unwildered provides an affordable, accessible and reliable way for citizens to access legal information, draft important documents and pursue claims in a timely manner, empowering workers to successfully navigate UK employment law.
