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…
Legal services threat assessment by United Kingdom Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation
In April 2025 Legal Services Threat Assessment published by the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). The report provides a detailed analysis of the sanctions compliance risks facing UK legal services providers, with a particular focus on the period following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. OFSI highlights the legal sector’s critical role in…
Australia and United Kingdom develop legal services regulatory dialogue
A development has been reported by the Law Council of Australia in its statement dated 11 April 2025, welcoming the continued progress of the Australia–United Kingdom Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue, established under the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA). In its commentary, the Law Council highlighted the importance of this Dialogue in advancing cooperation on legal…
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…
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…
Artificial intelligence requires greater attention from the legal sector, International Bar Association Future of Legal Services Commission report reveals
The second annual report from the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Future of Legal Services Commission (FLSC) warns that lawyers are treating AI as a future issue rather than an immediate priority, risking unpreparedness for its rapid impact on the legal sector. The 2024 Future of Legal Services – White Paper highlights the profession’s lack of…
Senior England and Wales judge urges legal professionals to embrace AI
Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls, the most senior Civil judge in England and Wales, delivered a speech at the LawtechUK Generative AI Event held in London on 5 February 2025. He urged legal professionals to embrace AI rather than resist its integration, emphasizing that AI is already transforming industries worldwide, and the…
Legal regulation amendments must remove political control of lawyers
The Law Society of Scotland has urged that new amendments to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill, lodged in the Scottish Parliament, must fulfill the government’s promise to remove political control over the legal profession. The Bill, originally introduced in April 2023, proposed sweeping new powers that would allow the Scottish Government to directly…