To demonstrate how the UK legal industry is integrating AI into the core of its offerings and create a pipeline for US development in the UK, UK Justice Minister Sarah Sackman this week traveled to Chicago with a group of British lawtech companies supported by the government.

In 2022, the value of legal services trade between the US and the UK was £2.2 billion. Several of the delegation's businesses currently generate £20 million annually and serve customers in the US and other countries. Among the businesses represented in the delegation are Legal-Pythia, Juro, and Legatics. Sackman KC said that by utilizing AI, technology, and legal innovation, they are reviving their economy. As part of their Plan for Change, supporting British lawtech will help companies and draw in foreign investment. 

Although this trip is now held annually, this year's visit coincided with a challenging period for international relations with the US due to trade tariffs announced by President Donald Trump that are expected to cause supply chain disruptions. The US quest for technical sovereignty will create uncertainty for all industries, but manufacturing firms that depend on hardware are initially targeted, meaning that Big Tech companies like Apple and Intel are facing what Forbes calls an inflection point.

The recent news that the Lawtech UK program, a government-backed project run by LegalGeek and Codebase, will get further funding for another year to assist in strengthening the UK's position in the global legal services market comes after this trade mission.

The legal industry in the UK contributes £37 billion to the country's annual GDP. Important agreements to enhance the industry have been reached in recent months with other countries, such as Switzerland, Japan, and Greece, which permit UK attorneys to practice elsewhere.