'Landmark moment' as SRA approves first AI law firm

Garfield AI - a platform designed to help small businesses recover unpaid debts through the courts - has become the first fully AI-driven law firm to be authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Described by its founders as a "litigation assistant", the platform uses AI to guide users through the small claims court process in England and Wales.

Garfield automates key steps like drafting letters before action, filing claims and preparing for trial. Importantly, it does so with client approval at every stage and under solicitor oversight – satisfying the SRA’s regulatory requirements.

The platform is already being used by law firms, accountancy practices and SMEs.

Why this (really) matters

This is the first time the SRA has authorised a law firm to provide regulated services using AI as the core delivery mechanism.

While many firms are already using AI tools behind the scenes - some even offering AI agents to clients and rival firms as products in their own right - Garfield is the first to be built entirely around AI with no traditional legal practice structure in sight.

The approval could pave the way for more AI-native entrants and signals, in particular, that the regulator is open to models that boost access to justice for underserved groups.

City law pedigree

Garfield AI was co-founded by former City law partner Philip Young, the co-founder of litigation specialist Cooke, Young & Keidan, and quantum physicist-turned-legal tech entrepreneur Daniel Long.

SRA scrutiny

According to the SRA, Garfield was put through a detailed authorisation process to ensure its model could meet the regulator’s standards.

Key areas of scrutiny included managing the risk of "hallucinations" - achieved through guardrails preventing the system from proposing relevant case law, which is traditionally a high-risk area for LLMs.

The SRA said that accountability for the system’s output remains with named regulated solicitors, and the firm is required to carry professional indemnity insurance like any other regulated practice.

What they said

"UK SMEs lose billions each year to unpaid invoices", said Young, co-founder and CEO of Garfield. "Garfield fixes this. It gives every small business the tools to get paid - fairly, affordably and fast."

As for the SRA’s approval, Young said: "The SRA’s thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and engagement during the authorisation process for Garfield has been extremely impressive. The SRA is now a world leader in promoting access to justice with AI."

Paul Philip, SRA chief executive, called it a "landmark moment" and added: "As this is likely to be the first of many AI-driven law firms, we will be monitoring progress of this new model closely, so we can both manage the risks and realise the benefits to consumers."