PhD Opportunity (Social Sciences)

JUDGEASSIST - A framework for principled AI-assisted judicial decision-making

School of Law, Trinity College Dublin
Starting Date: 1 September 2026
Duration: 4 years
Supervision: Dr Brian Barry (Principal Investigator)
Funding: Fee waiver (up to an amount that covers EU-level fees)  + annual tax free stipend €25,000

Summary

This PhD position is part of JUDGEASSIST, a major, five‑year European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant programme investigating how AI systems for assisting judicial decision‑making can be designed, evaluated, and deployed in ways that enhance, rather than undermine, the integrity and legitimacy of judicial systems, consistent with European rule of law values.

The project is a comprehensive, cross‑disciplinary and empirically‑driven study of AI tools used to support judicial decision-making, integrating perspectives from law, psychology, and AI development. It is explicitly stakeholder‑led, involving judges, litigation practitioners, AI developers and technical standards experts, and the public.

The work of this PhD lies primarily in examining the role and impact of AI in assisting judicial decision-making through theories and methods predominantly (but not exclusively) associated with the discipline of psychology and cognate fields (for example, examining and measuring trust, technology acceptance, procedural justice, and considering human computer interaction in this context). This work will contribute to the empirical co‑design and testing of principles guiding the development and deployment of AI systems for assisting judicial decision‑making.

Role

The PhD candidate will develop an original doctoral thesis, combining theoretical and empirical research within the context of the broader JUDGASSIST team’s objectives which are:

1. To investigate and determine:
   1. what features of AI systems for assisting judicial decision‑making drive public and legal actors’ trust in them,
   2. what principles ought to guide the development and deployment of AI systems for assisting judicial decision‑making in different judicial contexts.

2. To collaboratively design and draft technical standards for the development and deployment of AI systems for assisting judicial decision‑making in different judicial contexts through transdisciplinary research with stakeholders.

3. To develop and implement mechanisms for empirically testing how effectively the technical standards operationalise the principles guiding the development and deployment of AI systems for assisting judicial decision-making in different judicial contexts.

The role suits an exceptional candidate with demonstrable research expertise, professional or other expertise, or broader interest in some (but not necessarily all) of the following:

• Designing and conducting controlled behavioural or social sciences experiments (e.g., randomised controlled trials, vignette-based experiments),
• Designing and conducting other social sciences research such as survey- or interview-based studies,
• Courts and legal systems,
• AI for decision-making,
• Trust in AI,
• Interdisciplinary scholarship.

The candidate will, through their PhD studies, directly or indirectly contribute to completing various tasks that make up the broader JUDGEASSIST project including:

• Conducting up‑to‑date literature reviews of social and psychological factors relevant to AI in decision‑making – particularly trust, procedural justice, technology acceptance, human-AI interaction, and related responses in judicial contexts,
• Conducting controlled experiments, interviews, and surveys of judges, litigation practitioners and the public about their experiences with AI‑based judicial technologies and what principles are important to guide this technology,
• Working with AI standards experts, judges, and practitioners in co‑creation workshops to translate principles into operational technical standards for AI systems assisting judicial decision‑

Training and Research Environment

The candidate will participate in the doctoral programme on a full-time, in-person basis.

The candidate will join the PhD programme at the School of Law of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s leading university which is located on a historic campus in the heart of Dublin.

The School of Law will provide all logistic, academic and intellectual support and integrate the successful candidate into a vibrant doctoral programme at TCD.

The Law School offers a dedicated research module, which guides PhD students in formulating and refining their research question, fostering their legal writing and oral presentation skills. Moreover, PhD students at the School of Law may participate in a variety of other training courses and audit modules in its different Master’s programmes and from other programmes available across the university.

The PhD will work as part of the JUDGEASSIST team (comprising the Principal Investigator, three PhD candidates, two postdoctoral researchers - including one with specialist expertise in social sciences methods - and research assistants). This project will operate as part of the Technologies, Law and Society Research Group in the School of Law and work closely with the ADAPT SFI Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence.

The student will have funded opportunities to present at international conferences, publish in leading journals, and contribute to policy outputs emerging from JUDGEASSIST.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications:

• a 1st class or high 2.1 degree at the undergraduate level in a social sciences field or otherwise relevant to the role as described above (including but not limited to psychology/behavioural science/behavioural economics, crossover degrees combining law with social sciences such as psychology/criminology/socio-legal studies, sociology, human computer interaction or similar);
• a relevant Master's degree is desirable,
• meeting the University’s English language requirements.

Essential skills and knowledge:

• excellent analytical skills,
• experience and understanding of social sciences research methods relevant to the role (experience in quantitative research and experimental study design is particularly desirable, alongside experience and understanding of conducting literature review, survey and interview-based research),
• knowledge and understanding of statistics,
• proficiency in data analysis software,
• excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• high level understanding of and interest in AI and judicial systems.

Other essential knowledge and skills:

• excellent interpersonal and relational skills,
• an interdisciplinary approach,
• ability to structure and pursue an independent research project,
• excellent organisational skills,
• proven ability to work effectively in a team.

Desirable:

• Experience researching in or professional experiences working in law and/or AI fields,
• Knowledge of areas pertaining to the project such as AI ethics, AI regulation, AI development, and AI technical standards.

Funding Details

The PhD opportunity includes:

• Full tuition fees (up to an amount that covers EU-level fees) for four years,
• Annual stipend of €25,000,
• Access to a dedicated research and conference budget,
• Office space, IT resources, and full integration into the research group.

How to Apply

Applications comprise two steps:

1. Email Dr Brian Barry brian.barry@tcd.ie with the subject line PhD Social Sciences JUDGEASSIST attaching
   1. an up-to-date curriculum vitae,
   2. a transcript of third level degree(s).
2. Complete this application form. The form asks for basic information, questions about your motivations and suitability, and the names and contact details of two academic referees who have agreed in advance to support your application.

Deadline for applications: 12pm (GMT) Wednesday 6 May 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview in late May 2026 with candidates expected to be offered positions before the end of May / first week of June 2026.

Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Brian Barry by email: brian.barry@tcd.ie