The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has today announced the launch of a significant grant competition, offering up to £3.62 million to deliver the third phase of the LawtechUK programme. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to maintaining the UK's reputation as a global leader in legal services by fostering innovation and enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of the legal sector across England and Wales.
Lawtech, which encompasses technologies like AI tools for legal rights comprehension, automated legal processes, and digital dispute resolution platforms, has seen rapid advancements in recent years. This new funding aims to capitalise on these developments, particularly in artificial intelligence, to ensure the UK's legal services remain internationally competitive and responsive to the evolving needs of businesses and consumers. The programme is designed to run from November 2026 until March 2029, building on the progress made in its preceding phases.
Key objectives of the grant include stimulating the growth of the UK lawtech sector, with a particular emphasis on solutions that benefit consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also seeks to drive greater adoption of lawtech among SME legal service providers by supporting skills development and digital capabilities within the sector. Furthermore, the initiative aims to accelerate regional lawtech growth, targeting priority areas identified in the Industrial Strategy, such as city regions and high-growth clusters.
A crucial aspect of the programme is its focus on increasing access to legal services and reducing unmet legal needs through technology. This aligns with broader governmental ambitions to leverage technology for public benefit. The grant will also support the work of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce, promoting English and Welsh law as a foundation for emerging technologies.
The competition is open to applications from UK-based registered entities, including sole legal entities, consortia, joint ventures, unincorporated associations, or partnerships. Public sector organisations and individuals are not eligible for this funding. Applicants will undergo rigorous due diligence checks, including financial viability assessments and governance structure reviews, to ensure suitability for the grant.