UNESCO and University of Oxford Launch Free AI Justice Course
Summary
UNESCO and the University of Oxford have launched 'AI, Justice and Rule of Law', a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed for judicial professionals. The course covers AI and evidence, judicial independence, and women's rights, and includes a pioneering AI and Rule of Law Checklist for scrutinizing AI systems in judicial proceedings. English enrollment opens April 27, 2026, with French and Spanish editions following in June 2026. The 12-hour self-paced course is funded by UNESCO with EU support and offers a University of Oxford digital Certificate of Completion.
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UNESCO and the University of Oxford announced the launch of a free global online course on AI and the Rule of Law, designed specifically for judicial operators and legal professionals. The course, titled 'AI, Justice and Rule of Law,' is approximately 12 guided learning hours, self-paced, and free of charge. It is available in English from April 27, 2026, with French and Spanish editions launching in June 2026.
Judicial actors, lawyers, prosecutors, court administrators, and policymakers working on justice system modernisation should be aware of this resource. The course provides a human rights-based framework and practical tools—including an AI and Rule of Law Checklist—for evaluating AI systems in judicial contexts. No technical background is required to participate.
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UNESCO and University of Oxford launch a free global course on AI and Rule of Law
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future challenge for justice systems. It is already being used in courtrooms, shaping evidence, decision-making, and access to justice. Yet many judicial professionals lack the guidance and tools to assess these systems in line with fundamental rights and the rule of law. 27 April 2026
Summary
- Course details
- Building capacity for AI in courts
- Who it is for
- AI, Justice, and the Rule of Law
- Guidelines for the use of AI systems in courts and tribunals
To address this gap, UNESCO and the University of Oxford have launched AI, Justice and Rule of Law. This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is designed to help justice professionals navigate the ethical, legal and human rights challenges of AI.
Developed by UNESCO in partnership with the University of Oxford (Saïd Business School, the Blavatnik School of Government, and the Faculty of Law), and supported by the European Union, the course equips judicial actors with practical knowledge and tools to engage with AI in courts and legal systems.
UNESCO’s leadership makes this course distinctive. For the first time, a global, free online course brings together key issues such as AI and evidence, judicial independence, and women’s rights within a single, practice-oriented framework. It also introduces a pioneering AI and Rule of Law Checklist, designed to guide legal professionals in scrutinizing AI systems and outputs, including their use as evidence in judicial proceedings.
The English language course opens on 27 April 2026, with French and Spanish editions coming in June 2026. Enrolment is already open.
Cases involving AI are no longer theoretical; they are here, and they are growing. When that moment comes before you, will you be ready to respond with confidence and clarity?
Mariya Gabriel UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information
Course details
- Duration: Approximately 12 guided learning hours, plus optional resources
- Format: Online, self-paced
- Cost: Free of charge, funded by UNESCO with the support of the European Union
- Languages: English available now; French and Spanish coming in June 2026
- Certification: University of Oxford digital Certificate of Completion (issued in partnership with UNESCO, the Blavatnik School of Government and the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford)
- Register here
Building capacity for AI in courts
As courts modernise procedures and digital systems, AI tools are being increasingly used in areas such as case management, evidence analysis and legal research. While these technologies can improve efficiency and access to justice, they also raise critical questions around fairness, transparency, accountability, and due process.
This growing responsibility places new demands on judicial actors, who must not only understand how AI systems function, but also evaluate their legal and societal implications.
Courts are increasingly being asked to assess AI systems in their courtrooms. Whether AI facilitates or undermines how the rule of law operates will depend on the scrutiny and institutional safeguards those courts bring to it. This course is designed to support that work across jurisdictions and legal traditions.
Professor Ignacio Tirado Secretary-General at UNIDROIT Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the context in which legal decisions are made. For judicial actors, the challenge is no longer whether to engage with AI, but how to do so responsibly and with integrity. This course reflects Saïd Business School’s commitment to equipping leaders across sectors — including the judiciary — with the knowledge and judgment needed to ensure that technological advances strengthen, rather than undermine, justice and the rule of law.
Professor Mette Morsing Interim Peter Moore’s Dean, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Building on the Guidelines for the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals, the course explores key questions facing justice systems today, including how judges should assess algorithmic outputs, what safeguards are needed to prevent bias or over-reliance on automated systems, and how innovation can be adopted while preserving judicial independence and public trust. It also places particular emphasis on the role of courts in safeguarding rights in an increasingly digital environment.
Judges are holding the line for fundamental rights in current times. This evidence-based course, grounded in judicial practice worldwide, empowers the judiciary to uphold fair trial rights, identify and address AI-driven harms to women and vulnerable communities, and harness the power of AI for justice and the rule of law.
Philippa Webb Professor of Public International Law, University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government
Who it is for
The course is designed for judicial operators and legal professionals, including judges, prosecutors, court administrators, lawyers, and policymakers working on justice systems and court modernisation. It is also relevant to civil servants, regulatory professionals, academics, and early-career legal practitioners.
No technical background is required. Participants will gain practical tools and a human rights-based framework to evaluate and oversee AI systems in judicial contexts.
By strengthening institutional capacity and legal understanding, the course supports courts worldwide in ensuring that the use of AI reinforces, rather than undermines, the rule of law.
AI, Justice, and the Rule of Law
Register for the course and spread the word among your networks!
Click here Guidelines for the use of AI systems in courts and tribunals Gutiérrez, Juan David UNESCO 2025 Available in...
- Arabic
- English
- French
- Spanish
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