Why I built CourtPilot.
Because navigating the legal system shouldn’t require a solicitor’s budget or a law degree.
Recently, I represented my company as a witness in court for a £7,000 unpaid invoice claim. Our director had filed the case with a solicitor’s help, and my colleague and I worked to build the evidence, prepare witness statements, and organise the court bundle. It was a straightforward debt claim — a client simply hadn’t paid for work we’d completed.
We went to court. I stood as a witness. We presented our evidence. And we won. Justice was served — or so I thought.
We won our £7,000 claim, but we couldn’t recover the £2,500 we’d spent on solicitor fees from the defendant. Yes, the fees were tax deductible for our business, but that didn’t change the fundamental problem: our client would have settled outside of court for around £4,000–£4,500.
We’d spent months stressed about court proceedings, paid thousands in fees we couldn’t recover from the other side, and gone through the anxiety of the courtroom — all to end up in essentially the same net position we could have achieved through direct settlement. Using a solicitor for our small claim had turned what should have been a straightforward recovery into months of stress and unnecessary expense.
That experience opened my eyes. The small claims court is meant to be accessible without needing a solicitor, but most people don’t feel confident going it alone. They know they can’t recover legal fees, but feel they have no choice — so they pay up anyway and watch a chunk of their claim disappear. That’s why I built CourtPilot — to give you the guidance and tools to handle your claim yourself, without the hefty legal bills. Whether it’s an unpaid invoice, a dodgy service, or a deposit that’s gone missing, you shouldn’t have to choose between fighting for what’s right and it actually being worth your while.
James Pearson
Founder
As the solo founder of CourtPilot, I built this platform after my own frustrating £7k court win that cost thousands in unrecoverable fees. With full-stack expertise and deep UK small claims knowledge, I’m committed to making justice accessible to everyone who’s owed money but can’t afford traditional legal fees.
Opening up access to justice.
No one should have to choose between expensive solicitors and going without legal support.
With AI, we can provide structured, step-by-step guidance to help you handle many straightforward small claims yourself at a much lower cost than traditional legal services — making the legal system work for everyone, not just those who can afford it.
Three things, in order.
Transparency
Clear pricing, no hidden fees, no surprises. You know exactly what you’re getting and what it costs before you commit.
Accessibility
Legal help for everyone, regardless of income. Quality assistance shouldn’t be reserved for those who can afford expensive solicitors.
Quality
AI-powered accuracy combined with UK legal expertise. We deliver professional-quality documents and guidance you can trust.
Powered by Claude.
CourtPilot is powered by Claude AI from Anthropic, one of the most advanced language models available. That lets us:
- Understand complex legal situations and provide tailored guidance for your specific case
- Draft court documents in line with the Civil Procedure Rules, using templates designed for small claims in England and Wales (you remain responsible for checking and filing them)
- Stay up to date with the latest UK small claims procedures and regulations
- Analyse evidence and identify strengths and weaknesses in your case
All outputs are information and drafting support for you as a litigant in person; they are not a substitute for personalised advice from a qualified lawyer.
Our system is periodically reviewed against current Civil Procedure Rules and official guidance, so the information aims to reflect the latest small claims processes.
NOT A LAW FIRM · NOT REGULATED BY THE SRA · NOT PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES
CourtPilot provides AI-powered information tools to help you understand UK small claims procedures. We are NOT qualified solicitors, NOT regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and do NOT provide legal advice or reserved legal services. All information is for educational and planning purposes only. You are responsible for your own legal decisions. For complex cases or cases involving significant amounts, we recommend consulting a qualified solicitor.
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