New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice has launched the Accessible and Affordable Justice programme following the 2025 review of the legal aid system. The Ministry has published a summary of consultation feedback and Cabinet material from the review, which considered how the legal aid scheme is operating and where improvements may be needed. The programme will take forward…
AI law firm wins court case in the UK
An AI law firm, Garfield AI, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has won a small debt claim in an English court, in what has been reported as a UK and global first. The case concerned unpaid fees owed to a freelance HR consultant and is being reported as an example of regulated…
UK launches Advisory AI Growth Lab to support responsible AI adoption in legal services
The UK Government has launched an Advisory AI Growth Lab, a new advisory sandbox intended to support the development and deployment of AI products and services. Legal services will be the first sector to participate, reflecting demand for clearer and more coordinated information on how existing regulatory frameworks apply to AI-enabled legal services. The Lab will…
The coming revival of the PeopleLaw sector
In his latest newsletter, Canadian commentator Jordan Furlong argues that generative AI or GenAI is beginning to reshape the legal market in ways that could reduce the profession’s focus on corporate and organisational clients. Data highlighted by Professor William Henderson, notes that the share of legal receipts generated by organisational clients in the United States rose from 47.8% in 1972 to…
British Columbia introduces virtual court registry counter to support access to justice
British Columbia has introduced a virtual counter service for court registries, allowing members of the public to obtain procedural guidance, access forms, and receive basic support via video or telephone. The service is designed to centralise access to court registries, enabling staff (trained in this) to support users across different regions through a single digital…
Pooled client accounts: Proposed changes risk placing substantial new burdens on solicitors
The Law Society of England and Wales has raised strong concerns regarding the UK Government’s proposed amendments to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing (Amendment and Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 2025. The draft regulations would require solicitors to conduct full customer due diligence on all clients whose funds are held in pooled client accounts—bank accounts where a…
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…
Washington becomes latest state to test legal practice reforms
Washington State has become the latest U.S. jurisdiction to experiment with regulatory reform in the legal sector by relaxing restrictions on who can practise law. Beginning as early as October 2025, the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) will accept applications from law firms, nonprofits, and technology-driven organisations seeking to participate in a 10-year pilot programme…
A New Era for Qatar’s Legal Profession: Key Reforms Under Law No. 19 of 2025
Qatar’s Law No. 19 of 2025 marks a major milestone in the modernisation of its legal sector, amending the Legal Profession Law of 2006 to enhance transparency, professionalism, and international alignment. The reforms, introduced by the Ministry of Justice, aim to strengthen the legal profession’s role in upholding justice, protecting rights, and contributing to Qatar’s…
The Law Society features Colm Ó Cinnéide on rising threats to the rule oflaw
The Gazette of the Law Society of England and Wales has featured an article by Colm Ó Cinnéide, Professor of Constitutional and Human Rights Law at University College London, warning of growing threats to the rule of law in the UK and abroad. He stresses that the rule of law—power constrained by legal norms and…