The Ministry of Justice has launched a recruitment exercise for the next phase of its LawtechUK programme to nurture innovation in legal services. A new advisory board and ambassador network is to be established to champion the project.

LawtechUK, set up in 2019, aims to accelerate the development and adoption of digital technology across the legal sector. The programme’s current phase, run by contractors Legal Geek and CodeBase, had been due to end in March but received a six-month extension earlier this year when the government announced £4.5m of new funding.

The Ministry of Justice is now recruiting inviting expressions of interest from individuals wishing to join a new LawtechUK Advisory Board or become a LawtechUK Ambassador to support the third phase of the programme, which will run from November 2026 to March 2029. Both are new initiatives.

The LawtechUK Advisory Board will ‘provide strategic oversight and independent advice’ on the delivery of the programme. Ambassadors ‘will champion the programme by promoting LawtechUK through their professional networks, supporting stakeholder engagement, mentoring participants where appropriate and contributing to events, workshops and other programme activities.’

Both roles are voluntary and unremunerated.

The MoJ announced in July that a grant of up to £3.62 million is available to the contractor for the third phase. The grant competition is ongoing and the successful applicant will be notified in October, the MoJ said.