On 14 May 2025, the Law Society of England and Wales launched the first iteration of its ethical practice framework for in-house solicitors, marking a significant step in supporting legal professionals facing complex workplace ethical challenges. Developed in partnership with the Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre at the University of Leeds, the framework provides free…
Authorising the algorithm – what the first artificial intelligence law firm signals for legal practice
On 6 May 2025, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced that it had authorised Garfield.Law Ltd to provide regulated legal services in England and Wales—the first law firm in the jurisdiction to operate entirely through an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform. The authorisation marks a significant regulatory milestone, signalling the arrival of fully AI-powered legal service…
Royal stamp of approval for ‘CILEX chartered lawyers’
On 12 May 2025, Law Society Gazette journalist Michael Cross reported that the Privy Council has approved an amendment to the Royal Charter of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), enabling legal professionals to adopt the title “CILEX Chartered Paralegal”. According to CILEX, the change marks the first formal recognition of paralegals as a…
Regulatory leadership on access to justice
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has issued a report titled “Regulatory Leadership on Access to Justice”, prepared by Nottingham Law School. This report discusses how legal services regulators in England and Wales can play a more active and strategic role in addressing the ongoing challenges surrounding access to justice. It emphasises that access to justice…
United Kingdom Companies House ID verification checks change
The Law Society of Scotland has addressed forthcoming changes to Companies House ID verification processes in an article dated 23 January 2025, with an update on 24 February 2025. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, firms supervised under anti-money laundering (AML) regulations—such as Professional Service Providers like solicitors and accountants, and Trust and…
New regulatory proposals to strengthen lawyers’ ethical standards
On March 6, 2025, the Legal Services Board (LSB) of England and Wales proposed new regulatory measures to enhance ethical standards within the legal profession, marking a significant shift in how lawyers’ ethics are taught, monitored, and supported. Aimed at ensuring lawyers uphold their ethical duties throughout their careers, these proposals respond to evidence of…
Consumer vulnerability in the legal market
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published the findings of research it commissioned from the University of South Wales, examining consumer vulnerability in the legal market. The study aimed to identify practical tools to help the legal sector better serve vulnerable consumers and improve access to justice. However, rather than recommending a risk-based model similar…
Legal Services Board unveils interactive map and research to drive action to enhance legal sector diversity
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published an interactive map along with two comprehensive reports aiming to break down barriers within the legal profession that hinder individuals from diverse backgrounds from achieving successful legal careers. These initiatives pinpoint critical stages in legal careers where barriers such as elitist perceptions, undervaluation of non-traditional entry paths, workplace…
Legal Services Board of England and Wales issues guidance on promoting technology and innovation to improve access to legal services
The Legal Services Board (LSB) of England and Wales has issued guidance aimed at promoting the use of technology and innovation within the legal sector to improve access to legal services. This guidance outlines three main outcomes that regulators should strive to achieve: enabling the use of technology and innovation to support improved access to…
The Legal Services Board of England and Wales have made available recordings and resources from their recent Reshaping Legal Services Conference
On 7 March 2024, the Legal Services Board and Legal Consumer Panel organised its second annual Reshaping Legal Services Conference. The conference followed a wide range of topics, for a full programme run down follow the link here. The Legal Services Board has made available recordings of speeches and presentations as well as other resources to…