New government-backed AI Growth Lab will test legal technology for debt claims, conveyancing and access to justice — but regulators say safeguards are essential

THE LEGAL watchdog for England and Wales is backing a new government scheme to test artificial intelligence in the legal sector — a move that could eventually make legal help cheaper and easier to access for consumers and small businesses.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) will join the government’s newly launched AI Growth Lab, which aims to allow legal technology firms and law providers to trial AI systems in supervised real-world settings before they are rolled out more widely.

The announcement, embargoed until Sunday (June 8), will be made during the government’s AI Adoption Summit as part of London Tech Week.

The initiative has been described as an “advisory sandbox”, giving firms the chance to test AI products while receiving guidance from regulators about how existing legal rules apply. Officials stressed that involvement in the scheme does not amount to official approval or endorsement.

For ordinary people, the changes could eventually affect everything from debt recovery and court paperwork to house purchases and legal advice.

One example already authorised under existing rules is an AI-powered law firm called Garfield.Law Ltd, which helps small and medium-sized businesses recover unpaid debts through the small claims court.

The firm uses artificial intelligence to help process cases where pursuing unpaid invoices may otherwise cost more than the debt itself.

However, the Legal Services Board said safeguards remain essential. Although AI may assist with services, regulated solicitors still remain legally accountable for work carried out and firms are expected to have measures in place to reduce risks such as inaccurate information or poor legal advice.

House buyers could also see changes in the future.

A second example being explored involves an AI system designed to analyse property sales packs during conveyancing to flag inconsistencies or potential legal issues for solicitors to investigate.

Supporters say such tools could speed up house sales, identify problems earlier and reduce delays in what is often one of the most stressful stages of buying a property.

But concerns remain around transparency, confidentiality and trust.

The Legal Services Board said public confidence in legal AI would depend on strong protections, clear explanations of how systems work, and accountability when mistakes happen.

Richard Orpin, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board, said the project was a “pragmatic and timely initiative” that could help firms innovate safely while improving access to legal services.

He said the regulator hoped AI could ultimately help lower costs, improve user experience and increase access to justice, while ensuring consumers remained protected.

The Legal Services Board oversees legal regulators in England and Wales, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

Applications for companies wishing to join the AI Growth Lab are expected to open later this summer.

The development raises a bigger question for consumers: if AI can make legal help cheaper and faster, would you trust a computer to help fight your case?

Treasury plans would make it harder for major clean-energy and infrastructure projects to be delayed by legal challenges

THE MILFORD HAVEN Waterway could be one of the areas most affected by new UK Government plans to speed up the delivery of major energy and infrastructure projects.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce reforms giving Parliament greater power to approve nationally important clean-energy schemes, including new power stations, offshore wind farms and grid connections.

The Treasury says the move is designed to strengthen energy security, reduce bills and support economic growth.

But the proposals could also prove highly significant for Pembrokeshire, where the Haven Waterway is increasingly being promoted as a key hub for floating offshore wind, port infrastructure, grid upgrades, hydrogen, and other clean-energy projects.

Under the plans, Parliament would be able to designate key clean-energy schemes as being of “Critical National Importance”. That would reduce the scope for judicial review challenges, except on human rights grounds.

For other nationally significant infrastructure projects, including transport and water schemes, the government plans to introduce a fixed legal challenge window. Once that period has passed, developers would have greater certainty that projects could proceed.

The Treasury said the aim was to stop repeated legal challenges from delaying projects considered vital to the country.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “For too long, vital infrastructure delivery has been delayed by judicial reviews of projects the country needs.

“The Chancellor won’t stand for it any longer and is bringing forward bold changes to support delivery.”

The announcement will be watched closely in Pembrokeshire, where Milford Haven Waterway already plays a major role in the UK’s energy system.

The waterway is home to major port, fuel, gas and power infrastructure, and is central to plans for the next generation of low-carbon energy development in west Wales.

Supporters are likely to argue that faster decision-making could bring investment, jobs and supply-chain opportunities to Pembrokeshire.

However, the proposals may also raise concerns about local accountability, particularly if smaller energy projects are allowed to apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate rather than going through local councils.

That could leave communities feeling they have less influence over developments affecting their landscape, coastline and infrastructure.

The government says the new route would apply specifically to clean-energy projects, reflecting what it describes as the urgent need to move away from reliance on fossil fuels.

For Milford Haven Waterway, the reforms could mean major schemes connected to offshore wind, power generation, grid reinforcement and port-linked infrastructure move forward more quickly.

But they may also intensify debate over who gets the final say when national energy policy meets local communities.

A CALL has been lodged for the contentious DARC ‘space radar’ scheme in Pembrokeshire to be decided by Welsh Government rather than county planners.

In an application recently submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council following a public consultation, the Ministry of Defence wants to install 27 radar antenna and a long list of associated works at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy for a worldwide network of sensors called the Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) to track active satellites and other objects which would utilise three sites worldwide, part of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, in the USA, the UK and Australia “enabling 360-degree coverage of the sky at all times of day and under any weather conditions”.

In late 2023, Cawdor Barracks was identified as the preferred UK site by the-then UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps.

A supporting statement says of the DARC scheme: “This capability is critical to protect and defend the services provided by satellites, ensuring continuity and resilience against collisions or debris-related incidents.

“Without DARC, the UK faces a significant risk of losing access to these vital services, which would have severe consequences for national security, economic stability, and public safety.”

It says the scheme would create 90 full time equivalent construction jobs, and, when operational, will result in the creation of 60 full time equivalent jobs including operation, maintenance and security staff.

St Davids City Council members recently unanimously opposed the pre-application consultation proposals, and public objectors have raised concerns with protests recently taking place outside the barracks and County Hall, Haverfordwest, and former First Minister Eluned Morgan called for the scheme to be put on hold while Donald Trump is President of the USA.

Campaign group PARC against DARC, set up in 2024 to oppose scheme, has submitted an official request to ‘call in’ the application for DARC radar to the newly formed Plaid Cymru Welsh government, citing what it describes as “an extremely promising step forward for the campaign with an anti-DARC Plaid Cymru government now elected in the Senedd”.

A ‘call-in’ means the application could be decided at Welsh Government level rather than by county planners.

Campaigners argue that DARC should be called in to Welsh Government on the basis that it is “clearly a nationally significant development that lies well outside of the scope for consideration of Pembrokeshire County Council alone,” urging that it is called in so that a “fair and appropriate consideration of the suitability of a development that is so widely opposed can be placed within the context of the national priorities of Wales going forward”.

Plaid Cymru voted at their national conference in October 2024 to take action to oppose the project.

Anyone wishing to comment on the application before the county council has until May 20.

Pembrokeshire-based Jerome Flynn, who was first famous for his roles in Soldier Soldier, Robson & Jerome and more recently Game Of Thrones has  described the scheme as “the most unspeakably abominable planning application led by the US military, backed by Donald Trump to place 27 radar dishes right on the edge of our beloved coastal national park”.