Advancing Legal Innovation in the UK
The initiative aims to foster innovation within the legal services sector by expediting the development and adoption of lawtech throughout England and Wales. This aligns with the government’s ambition to uphold the UK as a premier global legal hub, which includes promoting innovative solutions, enhancing access to legal services, and bolstering the international competitiveness of English and Welsh law.
To facilitate this progress, a grant of up to £3.62 million is available for a successful applicant to implement the next phase of the programme, scheduled from November 2026 to March 2029.
Lawtech encompasses various technologies that enhance, support, or transform the delivery of legal services. Examples include artificial intelligence tools designed to assist individuals in understanding their legal rights, software that automates routine legal processes, digital platforms for resolving disputes, and innovations that enhance the efficiency and accessibility of legal services.
The legal technology sector has seen significant growth in recent years, particularly with the advancements in artificial intelligence. It is vital to continue this innovation to ensure the UK legal services market remains competitive on an international scale, addresses the evolving needs of businesses and consumers, and improves access to justice.
This competition builds upon the achievements of previous phases of the LawtechUK programme, aiming to further support the expansion of the UK’s legal technology ecosystem.
Detailed information regarding the grant’s objectives, eligibility criteria, and application process is provided below.
Objectives of the Grant
The primary aims of the grant are to:
- Encourage the growth of the UK lawtech sector, particularly focusing on solutions that benefit consumers and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while also promoting the development of AI-driven legal technologies in accordance with the UK AI Action Plan.
- Facilitate increased adoption of lawtech among SME legal service providers by enhancing skills development and digital capabilities within the sector.
- Accelerate regional lawtech growth, particularly in areas identified as priorities within the Industrial Strategy, including city regions and high-growth clusters with substantial potential.
- Promote the development and utilisation of technology to enhance access to legal services and aim to address unmet legal needs.
- Position the law of England and Wales, along with the UK’s jurisdictions, as the foundation for emerging technologies through support for the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce’s initiatives.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
This competition invites applications exclusively from registered entities based in the UK. Applicants may apply as individual legal entities or may collaborate to form consortia, joint ventures, unincorporated associations or partnerships. If forming a consortium, a lead applicant must be designated. Notably, individual organisations cannot apply as part of multiple consortia.
The specific eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Applicants must be registered corporate entities with a significant presence in the UK.
- Public sector organisations are ineligible for this funding.
- Individual applicants will not be considered.
- All awards will be conditional upon successful due diligence checks, which will encompass a review of financial statements, governance structures, adverse media checks, and legal entity verifications. The Ministry of Justice retains the right to consider additional factors relevant to a bidder’s suitability.
Further guidance is available for applicants submitting a joint proposal, detailed in the invitation to apply.
Key Dates in the Application Timeline
The following timeline outlines the key dates for this grant competition, though these dates are indicative and subject to modification:
- 16 July 2026: Invitation to Application published
- 26 August 2026: Application deadline at 17:00
- October 2026: Notification of successful bidders
- November 2026: Commencement of activities by successful bidders
- March 2029: Conclusion of funding
Application Process
To apply, please refer to the following documents:
- The Invitation to Application (PDF, 299 KB, 23 pages), which outlines essential information regarding the funding objectives, capabilities required from providers, and the application procedure.
- The Grant Funding Agreement (PDF, 540 KB, 44 pages), which is the legal contract that the successful applicant will enter into with the Ministry of Justice.
Applications must be submitted by 17:00 on 26 August 2026, and can be completed online via the Ministry of Justice Sourcing Portal. Registration is required to access the application form, which can be found within the open opportunities section under ‘ITT_10777 – LawtechUK grant Phase 3.’ For assistance in using the platform, please consult the Supplier guidance on eSourcing (PDF, 471 KB, 2 pages).
The grant is also listed on the Find a Grant service, where registration is necessary to access the application form.
Support for Bidders
For additional support, potential bidders are encouraged to review the Questions and Answers for potential bidders (PDF, 293 KB, 22 pages).
Contact Information for Inquiries
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at MoJLawtechgrant3@justice.gov.uk for further assistance.