The Legal Services Board is joining the government’s new AI Growth Lab, a scheme designed to help legal services providers and technology firms test artificial intelligence products under regulatory supervision before they are launched.
The initiative, which is being announced today at the AI Adoption Summit during London Tech Week, is intended to encourage innovation while maintaining consumer protections.
It will allow AI companies to trial products and services in real-world conditions through what the government describes as an “advisory sandbox”, giving participants guidance on how existing rules apply without requiring changes to legislation or regulation.
The LSB said the approach would help legal services providers and ‘lawtech’ firms develop and deploy AI tools more quickly by providing greater regulatory certainty. Participation in the scheme will not amount to regulatory approval or authorisation.
Following the testing phase, the LSB and the frontline regulators it oversees will assess whether any regulatory changes are needed to support further innovation while ensuring appropriate safeguards remain in place.
The board will work with organisations including the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office to help firms address issues such as client confidentiality, data protection, explainability and the safe use of AI.
Applications for AI innovators, legal services providers and conveyancing firms are expected to open later this summer.
Richard Orpin, chief executive of the Legal Services Board, said: “The AI Growth Lab is a pragmatic and timely initiative to accelerate the responsible adoption of AI in legal services. By bringing regulators and industry together, the Lab can provide further clarity and confidence that legal services providers and innovators need to innovate safely and quickly, driving growth in the sector.
“As oversight regulator, we are committed to fostering a pro-innovation regulatory environment. We will continue working with our partners to ensure the Lab enables effective approaches that help legal services work better for the public, including through lower costs, greater access to justice, improved user experience, and greater confidence in services, thereby supporting economic growth.
“Our research shows that consumers are open to the benefits of AI in legal services, but that trust depends on strong safeguards, transparency and accountability. The Lab provides a practical way to apply these insights in real settings to support and enable safe innovation.”
