Invitation to participate in SRA research on technology and innovation in legal services

Posted on02 December 2024

Technology in the legal sector is moving at a fast pace, changing the way solicitors work, and how clients interact with legal services. The SRA are committed to supporting our regulated community to keep pace with these changes while ensuring continued compliance and excellent client service. To do this effectively, we want to understand your views and experiences on technology and innovation within your practice.

The SRA has commissioned Thinks Insight & Strategy, an independent agency, to conduct research on the use technology and innovation by legal professionals – in particular, sole practitioners and small-sized firms.

We would like to invite you to take part in this research. This will involve taking part in a one-on-one interview with a Thinks researcher, lasting between 45 minutes and 1 hour at a time that best suits you over the next few weeks, online or via telephone, depending on your preference. Thinks would also like to do some in-person interviews, which would run longer and involve them visiting you in your workplace. All responses will remain anonymous and will not be linked to you or your firm. The findings will be reported at the aggregate level only.

If you would like to take part, please register your interest by filling in the opt-in form by clicking here. The form includes a few short questions to ensure you and your firm are eligible for the research. Note that any information you share in this form will be accessible only by the Thinks team, and will not be accessed by the SRA.

By sharing your experiences, you can help us identify how we can better support sole practitioners and small-sized firms to use technology and innovate, and we would be very grateful for your participation.

Kind regards,

Janice

Thinks Insight Team

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS