New research from AspiraCloud [1], a technology partner working with law firms across the UK, has found that a third of firms surveyed are not confident their current IT set-up would hold up to scrutiny from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, particularly around hybrid working.
The finding comes from AspiraCloud’s newly published State of IT in UK Law Firms report, which also points to AI adoption running well ahead of formal governance. A significant proportion of firms surveyed are already using AI tools without a documented policy covering approved tools, client data handling or review of AI-assisted work, echoing a pattern seen across the wider legal sector this year.
The research lands as the SRA sharpens its focus on AI and supervision. The regulator’s August warning notice on the misuse of AI made clear that existing obligations on competence, confidentiality and supervision apply in full when AI tools are involved, and that responsibility for the accuracy of any output sits with the individual solicitor regardless of how it was produced.
“Firms aren’t telling us they’ve checked and found gaps,” said Adrian Edgar, CEO of AspiraCloud. “They’re telling us they genuinely don’t know the answer, which is arguably the bigger risk. AI has moved faster than most firms’ policies, and very few have had the time to go back and check the two still line up.”
The full report is available to download now at https://aspiracloud.com/downloads/, with further findings on AI adoption, hybrid working and data governance across the sector.
AspiraCloud will unpack the findings in more depth, alongside practical guidance on closing the gap, at three evening sessions this October in London, Birmingham and Manchester, titled “Who’s In Control? AI and the Modern Law Firm.” Framed as a working discussion rather than a briefing, the sessions are aimed at managing partners and IT decision-makers who want a clear, practical view of where their own firm stands on AI governance and compliance.