UK Government Launches AI Growth Lab for Legal Services

The UK Ministry of Justice launched the advisory AI Growth Lab on June 8, 2026, bringing together four regulators to help AI innovators navigate existing legal services rules and accelerate responsible adoption of AI across the sector.

Legal services remain one of the most tightly regulated sectors in the UK, and fragmented guidance across multiple regulators has slowed AI deployment. This initiative directly targets that bottleneck by creating a single, coordinated advisory channel for innovators.

What the Lab Does

The advisory AI Growth Lab is a cross-economy sandbox that helps AI innovators test products and services within existing regulatory frameworks. It does not grant regulatory approval, endorsement, or authorisation. Legal and regulatory requirements remain unchanged for participants.

The Lab brings together four regulators: the Legal Services Board (LSB), the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Together they will work with innovators to surface cross-regulatory challenges and identify unintended barriers in existing rules.

Applications will open later this summer and are open to LawTech companies, legal service providers, and conveyancing firms.

Who Can Apply

The Lab targets AI innovators operating within legal services. This includes LawTech startups, established legal service providers, and conveyancing firms seeking to test AI products.

The government selected legal services as the first sector following strong industry demand and evidence gathered through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's (DSIT) Call for Evidence. DSIT is the government department responsible for science, innovation, and digital policy in the UK.

Regulator and Industry Response

William Malcolm, Executive Director for Regulatory Risk and Innovation at the ICO, said the initiative serves a core function for his organisation. "Supporting responsible AI innovation is a priority and a duty for the ICO. We recognise the critical role that initiatives like the Advisory AI Growth Lab play in driving both economic growth and public trust in technology adoption. It's essential that legal firms and businesses can navigate data protection requirements with confidence as they seek to make legal services more efficient and effective for people."

Rafie Faruq, CEO and Co-founder of Genie AI, called the launch a positive development for the sector. "Clear, joined up regulatory support is what unlocks responsible AI innovation in regulated industries like ours, and what gives UK companies the confidence to build at speed. As a leading generative AI company in legal, Genie AI is excited to test our latest innovations with the lab, which could unlock a new level of growth for the sector."

Sue Bence, COO of Farringdon, an AI-native law firm, noted that the Lab addresses a specific gap. She said that the most promising opportunities to improve client outcomes often sit at the edges of existing regulatory frameworks, and that innovators most need a route to test those ideas safely with their regulator alongside them.

Tony Randle, Director of Client Tech and Service Improvement at Shoosmiths, welcomed the launch and said the firm looks forward to exploring how it can participate and contribute to shaping the Lab's outcomes.