TO BE PUBLISHED November 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for the use of technological innovation in UK legal services. The agenda focuses on adoption of AI and digital tools across firms and chambers, alongside implications for sector growth, regulatory frameworks, and access to justice.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to examine implications of the Government’s Professional and Business Services Sector Plan and priorities for technology implementation moving forward. Areas for discussion include support for regional clusters, scaling of high-growth firms, and the role of innovation in meeting unmet legal need. With legal services recently announced as the first sector to have access to the Growth Lab, there will be discussion of how additional government investment in LawtechUK might best be deployed to support adoption of technology solutions, start-ups, and private investment in the sector.
Delegates will assess practical approaches to accelerating uptake across legal services, including wider deployment of lawtech, procurement and adoption in smaller firms and chambers, and addressing implementation barriers. Sessions will also consider how adoption is evolving across firms of different sizes and practice areas, alongside support for start-ups and scaling firms through access to finance and development of regional clusters, and the transition from early experimentation to broader deployment across the sector.
Developments shaping AI & digital adoption
It will also be an opportunity to discuss wider recent legislative and regulatory developments, with legal services accessing the AI Growth Lab as part of the Government’s recently launched AI growth project - which aims to provide targeted support for testing, scaling and regulatory adaptation of AI tools in legal services, including funding for innovation pilots, collaboration with firms and chambers, and guidance on safe deployment.
Implications of these developments will be assessed for approaches to deployment of AI and digital tools across legal services, including questions raised by stakeholders around accountability, data governance and consumer protection in the context of ongoing implementation of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, as well as priorities for greater regulatory clarity around the use of AI in legal services and key issues relating to confidentiality, liability, supervision and responsible use of client data.
Regulation, testing, deployment & consumer outcomes
Further sessions consider the role of regulation in supporting responsible innovation in legal services, including approaches being taken by the SRA, LSB and BSB in areas such as guidance, oversight and the use of testing environments. We expect discussion on recent SRA initiatives such as the authorisation of AI-driven law firms, safe testing environments, and support for small and medium-sized practices, as well as LSB and BSB work on voluntary standards and guidance for generative AI.
The conference will also be an opportunity to examine priorities for developing guidance and regulatory approaches moving forward, including frameworks that support innovation while maintaining professional accountability and consumer confidence. Sessions will explore approaches for maximising consumer benefits and the role of technology-enabled services in supporting affordability, convenience and early intervention, alongside practicalities for integrating AI and legal technology tools effectively into existing systems and workflows.
Safeguarding, workforce capabilities & governance
Further sessions will bring out latest thinking on options for supporting AI-enabled client services in ways that maintain appropriate safeguards. Delegates will examine approaches to creating opportunities for improved accessibility, efficiency and service delivery - while also mitigating risks associated with inaccurate outputs and overreliance on automated systems. Practical approaches to wider deployment will be discussed, including improving workforce capability, training, risk management and access to specialist expertise. We expect discussion to reflect changing patterns of legal work and implications for professional roles and career pathways.
Consideration will also be given to governance arrangements, verification processes and quality assurance mechanisms for AI-assisted legal work, including approaches to ensuring legal authorities are accurately cited and appropriate human oversight and accountability are maintained.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Business and Trade; Government Legal Department; Home Office; Intellectual Property Office; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
