Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to maintain the UK's status as a leader in legal services innovation.

The Ministry of Justice is keen to ensure the UK remains a world leader in legal services innovation. We achieve this through the LawtechUK programme, which, since 2019, has driven digital transformation in the legal sector. Key objectives of the programme include increasing innovation and adoption of lawtech in delivery of UK legal services, supporting the growth of the UK lawtech sector, and enabling English and Welsh law and the UK’s jurisdictions to become the foundation for emerging technology.

The LawtechUK programme also supports the work of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT). The UKJT promotes the use of English law and the UK’s jurisdictions for technology and digital innovation. They aim to provide market confidence and legal certainty for new and emerging technologies, such as Cryptoassets and AI.

The Department works closely with international partners to co-operate on matters related to lawtech, including establishing dialogue on industry practise, knowledge sharing, and research. For example, the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, which is the first trade agreement in the world to include these specific commitments on lawtech.

The Ministry of Justice also delivers The GREAT Legal Services campaign which promotes the strength and breadth of the UK’s legal services sector and expertise overseas and facilitates the export of high calibre legal services, including lawtech. LawtechUK works closely with this campaign to promote the UK as a global hub for lawtech, including hosting a reception in March for New York Legal Week.