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The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Aisling O’Connell on fostering technology & innovation in small firms

There’s no question that technology is transforming all our lives. People are increasingly using technology to choose and access professional services. The legal sector is of course experiencing its own ground-breaking innovations, which are enabling new ways for solicitors and law firms to deliver services, engage with clients and increase efficiency.

Firms need to keep pace with consumers’ rapidly changing expectations. Yet sole practitioners and small firms can face obstacles in embedding technology in their firms, with the risk that some are left behind.

At the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), we recognise smaller firms’ value to the public, as they continue to be the gateway to legal services for many. They can provide an affordable, trustworthy, close-to-home option, providing access to expert advice.

The SRA is committed to encouraging innovation that can improve both legal services and access to them. That includes supporting small firms to adopt technology responsibly and safely. That’s why we recently commissioned research

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NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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