LexisNexis has published a report on what it describes as the mentorship gap created by the increasing use of AI in legal work. Drawing on a January 2026 survey of 873 UK-based legal professionals, the report identifies clear productivity gains from legal AI, while also raising concerns about how junior lawyers develop judgment, argumentation and…
SRA consults on proposals to strengthen continuing competence requirements
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is consulting on proposals to strengthen continuing competence requirements for solicitors in England and Wales. The proposed changes are intended to provide greater assurance that practicing solicitors are maintaining the competence, that are needed to meet both their professional and ethical obligation. The proposals would require all solicitors to record…
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…
SRA chief executive sets out priorities for change in 2026
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has set out a renewed set of priorities for 2026, following remarks by Chief Executive Sarah Rapson to a meeting of the Law Society Council on 18 March 2026. The priorities are framed around fixing the regulator’s foundations and rebuilding trust with both the public and the profession. Rapson acknowledges concerns…
Private equity-backed English firms enter Scottish market ahead of ABS reform
English firms backed by private equity are entering the Scottish legal market in anticipation of alternative business structure (ABS) reform. Although a limited form of ABS was permitted by the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010, the regulatory regime was never implemented. The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 represented a further liberalisation in law firm business structures, removing the requirement for majority lawyer ownership but implementation of this…
SRA ten-year diversity data shows progress but persistent gaps remain
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has published ten years of law firm diversity data for England and Wales, offering a longer-term picture of how representation across the profession has changed since 2015. The figures show progress in several areas, with the proportion of women in the profession rising from 48% to 55% over the period, and…
Legal Services Board publishes interim findings on litigation guidance
The Legal Services Board of England and Wales has published interim findings from its review of how frontline regulators provide guidance on the scope of litigation activities, following the High Court’s decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys. The Mazur judgment highlighted uncertainty around what constitutes the “conduct of litigation” under the Legal Services Act…
Four-year review of the SQE highlights early impacts on entry to the profession
The Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales has published a four-year review of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, providing a substantial dataset on candidate demographics, pass rates, and performance trends since the SQE replaced traditional qualification routes. The review reports changes in the profile of SQE candidates, including higher representation from some minority ethnic backgrounds…
Legal Services Board publishes plans to tackle barriers to a more diverse legal services profession
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has released a set of new proposals aimed at addressing persistent barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion within the legal services profession. Despite incremental progress, the sector continues to fall short of reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves. Women, minoritised ethnic groups and disabled individuals remain significantly underrepresented,…
Solicitors Regulation Authority warns of rising risks in high-volume consumer claims
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a comprehensive update highlighting growing concerns about the way high-volume consumer claims are being handled in the legal sector. While this model can provide an accessible route for consumers to enforce their rights, the regulator warns that poor practices by some law firms and claims management companies (CMCs)…