UK launches AI labs for legal services

The UK government has launched “AI Growth Labs” for the legal sector, aiming to help companies build and test AI tools in a secure environment and bring products to market faster. The Ministry of Justice said the initiative will work with lawyers and regulators to support the introduction of legal AI, including tools intended to speed up conveyancing during property sales.

The programme is part of a broader “AI adoption plan” for professional and business services led by Shaheen Sayed, chief commercial officer at Accenture. A report cited by Sayed said about 14% of roles in the sector are at risk of substitution and 53% are likely to be “significantly augmented”. The labs will open later this summer to legaltech companies, legal service providers and conveyancing companies, with expansion to other sectors planned later this year.

David Lammy said the legal sector contributes over £40bn a year to the UK economy but has been constrained by “analogue systems”. Law Society chief executive Ian Jeffery welcomed the potential for safe testing against existing professional standards, while calling for clear guidance on data security, oversight, reserved legal activities and professional responsibility.

Legal AI start-up Legora, valued at about $5.5bn, said the move supports London’s emergence as a legal technology hub. Gartner’s Weston Wicks was more skeptical, arguing that start-ups may be better served by private incubators such as Y Combinator.