RELAIT: AI-supported lawsuits to boost refugees’ access to justice
Challenge
Of the more than 10,000 refugee applications annually in Korea, only 2% are successful. Those denied are not given legal representation when they appeal the nonrecognition of their refugee status, leading to virtually zero chance of success.
Solution
Increase access to justice by developing an AI-based system that drafts submissions to court for refugee lawsuits, helping to argue for the illegality of nonrecognition decisions.
Impact
Refugees in Korea are better able to present their cases in court as they seek recognition of their refugee status, improving their access to justice and their chances of socioeconomic inclusion on the basis of that status.
Project impact
Other information
Refugees in the Republic of Korea seeking to challenge first-instance asylum decisions in court face significant barriers in accessing qualified legal representation, with limited state-subsidised legal aid and few pro bono resources available. Funded by the Data Innovation Fund and developed jointly by UNHCR Korea with LG CNS as a pro bono Gifts-in-Kind partner, the Refugee Empowerment in Lawsuits through Artificial Intelligence Technology (RELAIT) equips partner lawyers with an AI-assisted drafting platform that integrates refugee application data, country of origin information, domestic and international refugee law and case law to support the preparation of court submissions. The platform applies strict safeguards and aims to strengthen the capacity of legal practitioners supporting asylum-seekers and offers a replicable model for AI-assisted legal aid in refugee contexts globally.