The latest on the Mazur ruling...

The Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP judgment continues to send ripples through the legal profession.

It raises serious uncertainty over who may conduct litigation, the use of AI in litigation, and the role of non‑authorised staff (such as legal executives or paralegals) in litigation work.  We won’t rehash the detail here – but please do refer back to our article in November 2025  if you wish to familiarise yourself with the background to the landmark case.

Regular readers will know that this is very fast moving – in fact the SRA have updated their post-Mazur guidance no less than five times – but here’s a succinct roundup of what we know as of date of publication. The latest advice and stance from the SRA can be found here.

Latest developments

CILEX becomes an Appellant

The CILEX – the chartered body representing many legal executives – has been granted permission by the Court of Appeal to appeal Mazur, even though they were not party to the original case. This recognition reflects the ruling’s broad significance across the profession.  This appeal is due to be heard on 24 February 2026 – save the date!

Law Society intervention

At the same time, the Law Society has called on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to provide urgent guidance on whether – and how – firms may use artificial intelligence tools in litigation, given the ruling’s impact – especially around whether AI might be regarded as “conducting litigation”.  What we would say here is how can a human being – often carrying many years’ experience in litigation – be prohibited, whilst the hive-mind of the unknown be allowed to?

Legal Services Board asking questions

Behind the scenes, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has formally launched a sector-wide review. The review, which will be examining how all approved regulators and representative bodies issued guidance on litigation rights, and how they responded to Mazur,  aims to assess whether there has been regulatory failure or consumer risk across the broader legal‑services framework.

What should law firms do now?

Firms should urgently:

• Review delegation and supervision practices to ensure only authorised individuals conduct reserved legal activities.
• Reassess staffing allocations: legal executives and paralegals may be restricted from litigation work, which may necessitate restructuring or reassignment.
• Communicate with clients: clearly explain who is handling their cases, potential delays, and safeguards in place to ensure lawful conduct of litigation.
• Monitor AI usage: ensure AI tools are used only for support tasks and are subject to proper oversight.

Implications for clients

For clients, it may affect who handles their cases – and how smoothly matters proceed. Firms will need to communicate clearly about staffing changes, the potential for delays, and safeguards to ensure litigation is conducted lawfully under the current regulatory regime.

The sector reacts

The implications for practice is being handled cautiously, but pragmatically.  Many acknowledge the uncertainty it creates for litigation practice but see it as an opportunity to reinforce professional standards. Interventions by professional bodies are being welcomed in order to clarify the boundaries of authorised practice, and to address concern about the implications of AI and the involvement of non-authorised staff in litigation.

Some practitioners have also highlighted potential opportunities, noting that the ruling could increase demand for authorised professionals and prompt modernisation in regulatory practices. Overall, the sentiment reflects a profession alert to disruption but actively seeking guidance and solutions rather than responding with alarm.

There’s no doubt that Mazur is reshaping litigation practice, regulatory oversight, and professional responsibility. Firms should take proactive steps now to safeguard compliance, client service, and operational efficiency. With the CILEX appeal and Law Society intervention pending, this story will continue to evolve rapidly.

As always we are here with a listening ear – don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help at all.