Brett Dixon, the 182nd president of the Law Society of England and Wales, has outlined his priorities for his year in office, placing significant emphasis on the role of artificial intelligence in legal practice, support for solicitors with disabilities, and the urgent need for investment in the justice system.

Dixon, a University of Leicester law graduate and personal injury law specialist since 1999, has embraced technology with enthusiasm, describing himself as an “unashamed geek.” He builds computers, codes, and has developed his own AI chatbot named Bob, which controls household functions such as lighting and heating. Speaking shortly after his swearing-in last week, Dixon acknowledged AI’s growing role in streamlining legal work and augmenting human judgment but emphasized that solicitors’ empathy and discretion remain essential. He compares AI to a “talented research assistant that you don’t quite trust,” underscoring the continuing need for human judgment which underpins the legal system through precedent and common law.

One of the inaugural initiatives of Dixon’s presidency is a planned partnership with Unesco to establish an AI charter guiding ethical use of technology in business. The project, expected to conclude in 2027, aims to produce standards that will be accessible beyond international policymaking, offering practical guidance across the country, including in smaller communities like Burnley.

Dixon, who is state-educated and the first in his family to attend university, has identified improving access to the legal profession for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds as a key focus. Another priority stems from his personal connection to disability advocacy: his daughter was born with a partial arm, and his sister uses a wheelchair due to a neurological condition. Highlighting data from the Solicitors’ Charity, Dixon noted that only 8 percent of solicitors feel comfortable disclosing disabilities and requesting workplace adjustments, compared with 24 percent of the general adult population. To address this, he intends to update the Society’s guidance on reasonable workplace adjustments and launch a series of roadshows to encourage law firms to engage in open conversations about disability needs.

Regarding the broader justice system, Dixon stressed the courts’ vital economic role by facilitating international trade and dispute resolution. However, he expressed concern over chronic underfunding, deteriorating court infrastructure, and extensive delays across family, criminal, civil, and tribunal cases. Of particular concern is the declining number of duty solicitors, who represent individuals immediately following arrest; the average age for these lawyers is 51, with few new entrants, potentially threatening the service’s viability.

Dixon also advocated for greater judicial diversity, including appointing more solicitors as judges, a move he described as “inexplicable” in its current neglect. Born in Burnley, he welcomed the recent northern representation in government and urged regional administrations to seize the opportunity to strengthen the justice system’s foundations. To improve public understanding of the legal system’s importance, Dixon called for lawyers to communicate about justice in relatable terms, aiming to elevate its status alongside other public services like the NHS.