UK legal exports rise by nearly 40% in two years

updated on 11 December 2024

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UK legal exports increased by nearly 40% between 2021 and 2023, according to research carried out by the Law Society following data published by the Office for National Statistics.

Research showed that legal exports grew from £6.7 billion in 2021 to £8.4 billion in 2022 and £9.5 billion in 2023. The report found that English law is often selected by users of legal services globally for their commercial contracts and transactions across various sectors and areas of trade. The growth in export value significantly impacts economic growth, improving living standards and reducing poverty levels. There’s also a positive trade balance, which indicates that the global demand for UK legal services is rising faster than the demand for foreign legal services in the UK.

The Law Society President Richard Atkinson said that the growth “reflects the high regard and the pivotal role that English and Welsh solicitors play in providing world-class legal services to global clients”.

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