#The problem
Barristers work alone. They receive briefs that are 800 to 1,500 pages. They have no support staff. Everything that doesn’t require counsel’s judgment — digesting the bundle, finding a specific document during a hearing, drafting standard orders — falls on them personally.
That’s where Silk starts.
#What it does
AI workflow platform designed for barristers. Each workflow drops in with zero technical setup.
Core workflows:
- Brief triage: 1,500-page bundle becomes a structured one-page summary
- In-hearing document search: find the paragraph without paging through the bundle
- Citation synthesis: plain-language query to authorities with AGLC4 citations
- Draft orders and correspondence: court-formatted documents with markup for review
- Attendance notes and fee notes: structured output from dictation or time entries
Design principle: Individual contributors can use it without training. No AI jargon. Outputs in court-native language.
#Why it exists
Family law trial barristers spend roughly half their time in court and a third on brief review. That’s the highest-density pain. Silk was designed there first.
The name derives from “taking silk” — appointment of King’s Counsel or Senior Counsel at the Bar.
#Status
In development. Not publicly available.