UK Data Protection for Law Firms 2026 - Core Compliance Essentials

Introduction

The UK data protection regime is governed by the Data Protection Act 2018, the UK GDPR, and guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

For law firms, compliance is particularly critical given the sensitive nature of client data handled and the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s requirement that firms comply with all relevant legislation and maintain effective systems and controls for protecting confidential information.

Regulatory expectations continue to develop, with increasing focus on organisational accountability, cyber security, supplier management, international data transfers, and the use of modern technologies including AI-assisted tools within legal practice.

Failure to comply can result in ICO enforcement action, financial penalties, reputational damage, and potential regulatory consequences.

This short webinar provides a practical introduction to the key data protection obligations affecting law firms and highlights the main operational risks firms must manage. This webinar will also reference data protection expectations within quality standards such as CQS and Lexcel.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The core UK GDPR principles and what they mean in a legal practice environment
• What constitutes personal and special category data in client matters and HR records
• Governance structures, including when a Data Protection Officer or equivalent oversight role may be required
• Responsibilities of partners, compliance teams, COLPs/COFAs, IT, and fee earners in protecting personal data
• Recognising and managing Subject Access Requests and other data rights requests within a law firm
• Identifying personal data breaches, cyber incidents, and reporting obligations
• Managing risks when using case management systems, cloud storage, outsourced providers, and international transfers
• Data protection considerations when using legal technology and AI-assisted tools
• Potential consequences of non-compliance, including ICO enforcement and regulatory implications
• Practical steps firms can take to control data protection risks

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Monday 27th July 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,300+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.