A CELCIS Emerging Insight Series Webinar:  

Does AI have a place in children's hearings and family law?

As we continue this series of webinars on AI and Children's Social Care, we’re exploring what the use of AI might mean in systems that are specifically required to respond to the needs and rights of children, young people and their families.

Children, young people and families who may need the support of children's social care navigate many legal, judicial and quasi-judicial systems that are in place to respond to these needs. Organisations working with these systems are currently considering what advances in artificial intelligence could mean for how things are done and whether AI could help improve support, services and proceedings for everyone involved in these.

In Scotland, this includes the Children's Hearings System and SCRA - the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration – which has recently published the report of research which has gathered views on ethical, legal and rights-based issues around the potential uses of AI within and beyond the Children’s Hearings System. Meanwhile, the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has been asking whether the use of AI could improve the experiences of families and practitioners in the family justice system in England and Wales.

Join us on 24 August as we explore AI with SCRA and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the challenges and risks involved, and what governance might be required in order for artificial intelligence to be used safely in the context of hearings and family law.

We’ll hear from:

• Dr Annie Taylor, Research Officer, and Jennie Laurenson, Research Coordinator, at SCRA, co-authors of ‘A Double-edged Sword’: Potential Uses of AI in the Children’s Hearing System; and
• Dr Ellie Ott, Associate Director (Research and Data) at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory which recently updated its briefing to prompt reflection and discussion around understanding the potential of AI and/or its challenges and risks in relation to the family justice system.

There will also be space for questions.

 

Register today to attend

This series of webinars is open to anyone with a professional and personal interest in responding to the care and protection needs of children and young people, and supporting their families, in Scotland, the UK and anywhere in the world.

 

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Source material / pre-reading

• ‘A Double-edged Sword’ Potential Uses of AI in the Children’s Hearing System: https://www.scra.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AI-in-the-Childrens-Hearings-System-full-report.pdf
• AI in the family justice system – 2026: https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/resource/ai-in-the-family-justice-system-2026

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CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, is a leading improvement, innovation and research centre for children and young people’s support, care and protection, based at the University of Strathclyde.

CELCIS is a fully accredited CPD provider with the CPD Certification Service (CPD UK)

 

Book your place