In Carter-Ruck Solicitors and another v Solicitors Regulation Authority Limited [2026] EWHC 2416 (KB), Mr Justice Butcher held that section 44B of the Solicitors Act 1974 does not override a client’s legal professional privilege in the absence of waiver. The case arose from production notices issued during an SRA investigation and concerned the scope of…
SRA announces first changes to SQE1 following candidate feedback
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced what it describes as the first in a series of improvements to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. From January 2027, SQE1 will contain 340 questions rather than 360, while questions will be organised within defined Functioning Legal Knowledge sessions instead of drawing across the full range of subjects in each…
England and Wales funds up to 100 additional criminal Bar pupillages a year
The Ministry of Justice has launched a scheme providing up to £1.5 million a year for as many as 100 additional criminal Bar pupillages across England and Wales. The funding is intended to support training places that would not otherwise be available and to strengthen the junior end of the Criminal Bar at a time…
SRA warns solicitors on safe and responsible use of AI
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has published a warning notice on the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence as the technology becomes more common in legal research, drafting, document review and administrative work. The SRA recognises the potential for AI to improve efficiency and consumer services, but says its use does not change the standards…
Legal Services Board sets new expectations to strengthen lawyers’ ethical standards
The Legal Services Board has set out new expectations for legal services regulators in England and Wales aimed at strengthening lawyers’ ethical standards and reinforcing their role in upholding the rule of law. The LSB says regulators must place professional ethical duties at the heart of how lawyers are expected to behave, and has confirmed…
Law Society of England and Wales calls for guidance rather than new AI regulation
The Law Society of England and Wales has urged government to clarify how AI may be used in legal services under existing regulations. In January 2026 response to a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) consultation on AI, the Society said its current regulatory framework already “supports progress” in AI innovation and called for…
Solicitors Regulation Authority issues guidance after motor finance judgment
The Solicitors Regulation Authority in January 2026 issued guidance for law firms handling motor finance commission claims, following an August 2025 Supreme Court ruling. That ruling held that in some cases motor finance companies had unfair commission arrangements requiring refunds, while dealers did not necessarily owe a duty of loyalty to customers. The FCA is…
Solicitors Regulation Authority moves to strengthen oversight of high-volume consumer claims sector
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) of England and Wales has intensified its scrutiny of the high-volume consumer claims (HVCC) market, where law firms handle mass claims such as housing disrepair, data breaches, and motor finance complaints. While the HVCC model can enhance access to justice, the SRA’s thematic review has revealed widespread compliance and transparency…
Law Society’s new framework empowers in-house solicitors to tackle ethical challenges
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…