2024 look ahead for the legal profession
Law Society of England and Wales looks at what 2025 holds for the legal sector as it celebrates its bicentenary.
Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society said: “2025 sees the Law Society celebrating 200 years of supporting and representing solicitors.
“The year also brings a host of new opportunities for the legal profession, with the use of AI tools for legal services continuing to grow as the sector navigates using the technology in a safe way.
“After decades of underfunding, there is investment from the government on legal aid. Funding for this vital public service is long overdue. Sustained investment in all parts of the justice system is required to ensure access to justice for all people is protected.
“The new year also holds growth opportunities for legal services not just within the UK, but also internationally as we continue to support our members and the sector continues to thrive and contribute to the economy.”
2025 look ahead for the legal profession:
1. Economy – legal services contribute £74.4 billion* to the UK economy and we expect the government’s new Industrial and Trade Strategies set to be announced in 2025 tocontinue to support growth in the sector.
2. International trade – the Law Society will also continue to work on the implementation of amended regulations for foreign lawyers and law firms by the Bar Council of India and the Greek legal sector, while ensuring the legal profession benefits from a future UK-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement.
3. Access to justice – while the increase in funding for criminal legal aid was a welcome step forward, further progress is needed to deliver a sustainable future.
Also, an increase across civil legal aid fees will help to make sure that legal aid providers remain viable, and people can continue to access their right to legal advice. Our research also shows that a well-funded justice system will save public money down the line.
4. Technology – as the use of AI is expected to continue to be integrated into the legal sector, the Law Society’s 21st century justice project will unveil proposals about how to safely use AI for legal services and create a secure, trusted digital justice system.
5. Legislation – the government has a raft of reforms expected to be introduced in 2025. From the Renters’ Rights Bill expected to receive Royal Assent, strengthen renters’ rights and abolish ‘no-fault’ evictions, to new rights for employees being introduced through the Employment Rights Bill as the government ensures employment tribunals are properly resourced.
Notes to editors
*The Economic Contribution of Legal Services full report can be found here.
About the Law Society
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.
Press office contact: Kelis Edwards | 02036570144