The United Kingdom government has opened the first sector programme under its advisory AI Growth Lab, selecting legal services as the initial focus. The initiative is designed for organisations developing or deploying AI-enabled legal services, including lawtech companies, law firms, alternative business structures, conveyancing businesses, public bodies, smaller businesses and technology developers. Successful applicants will receive coordinated access to participating regulators so that novel or cross-cutting regulatory questions can be explored while products and services are developed or adopted.
The Legal Services Board, Solicitors Regulation Authority, Council for Licensed Conveyancers and Information Commissioner’s Office are participating alongside government departments. Selected organisations may work through the programme for up to nine months, examining risks and clarifying how current requirements apply in practice. Participation does not amount to approval or endorsement and does not disapply any legal or professional obligation. Applications are open until 27 September 2026, and aggregated learning from the projects is expected to inform the wider development of the Growth Lab programme.