As ministers push to loosen rules to speed up AI adoption, The Law Society argues that lawyers just need to know how current laws apply.
The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) recently launched a call for evidence on a proposed ‘AI Growth Lab’. This cross-economy sandbox is designed to accelerate the deployment of autonomous technologies by granting “time-limited regulatory exemptions” to firms. The government’s position is that many regulations are outdated, having been designed before autonomous software existed, often assuming that decisions are made by people rather than machines.
Ministers believe that if the UK can move faster than its global competitors, it can secure a defining economic advantage, with a potential £140 billion boost to national output by 2030. Their preliminary analysis specifically flags legal services as a sector where removing “unnecessary legal barriers” could generate billions in value over the next decade.
Yet, the legal profession – supposedly the beneficiary of this deregulation – isn’t asking for exemptions. In its formal response, the Law Society made clear that the existing framework is robust enough. The friction lies not in the rules themselves, but in the lack of certainty surrounding them. While two-thirds of lawyers already use AI tools, confusion remains the primary brake on deeper integration.
Ian Jeffery, CEO of The Law Society, said: “AI innovation is vital for the legal sector and already has great momentum. The existing legal regulatory framework supports progress. The main challenges don’t stem from regulatory burdens, but rather from uncertainty, cost, data and skills associated with AI adoption.”
Rather than a regulatory overhaul, the profession is asking for a practical roadmap. Firms are currently navigating a grey area regarding liability and data protection. Solicitors need definitive answers on whether client data must be anonymised before it is fed into AI platforms, and they require standardised protocols for data security and storage.
The questions get thornier when errors occur. If an AI tool generates harmful legal advice, it is currently unclear where the buck stops (i.e. with the solicitor, the firm, the developer, or the insurer.) There is also ambiguity about supervision requirements, specifically whether a human lawyer must oversee every instance of AI deployment.
Such concerns are particularly acute for “reserved legal activities” like court representation, conveyancing, and probate, where practitioners need to know if using automated assistance puts them in breach of their professional duties.
AI laws must retain safeguards
The government has tried to reassure the public that the sandbox will have “red lines” to protect fundamental rights and safety. However, The Law Society remains wary of any move that might dilute consumer protection in the name of speed.
“Technological progress in the legal sector should not expose clients or consumers to unregulated risks,” Jeffery stated. “Current regulation of the profession reflects the safeguards that Parliament deemed vital to protect clients and the public. It ensures trust in the English and Welsh legal system worldwide.”
The body is willing to collaborate on a “legal services sandbox,” but only if it upholds professional standards rather than bypassing them. For The Law Society, the priority is maintaining the integrity of the justice system in the AI era.
“The Law Society strongly supports innovation provided it remains aligned with professional integrity and operates in a solid regulatory environment,” Jeffery explained. “The government must work with legal regulators and bodies to ensure adherence to the sector’s professional standards. Any legal regulatory changes must include parliamentary oversight.”
See also: Inside China’s push to apply AI across its energy system
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