SRA authorises LawFairy, a "technology-only" law firm built on deterministic legal logic
AI-powered London firm LawFairy has been authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to operate, positioning itself as the first technology-only practice in England and Wales built around a fully deterministic legal model. Instead of probabilistic AI, the platform runs on pre-validated legal rules and produces an auditable reasoning record for every decision.
LawFairy likens its approach to a certified flight simulator: same inputs, same outputs, every time. The goal is simple-consistency, traceability and a clear chain of reasoning that stands up to scrutiny.
How the model works
LawFairy's core is a deterministic decision engine structured around codified legal tests, thresholds and time limits. Language models operate within that framework, but do not drive the outcome.
Founder Raj Panasar put it directly: "At LawFairy, decisions grounded in law are governed by deterministic legal logic, with language models operating inside that structure rather than driving outcomes themselves. That's what makes decisions traceable, explainable and suitable for high-stakes legal use."
Initial focus: rule-based domains like immigration
The firm is targeting areas where eligibility turns on defined statutory criteria-think salary thresholds, job classifications and residence calculations. Immigration is first on the roadmap, where small factual variations can flip outcomes.
According to the firm, the platform applies rules deterministically and outputs structured eligibility assessments and reasoning packs. For clients, that means clarity and defensibility in decisions that affect the right to work, remain or settle. For reference, see the UK's Immigration Rules for the types of criteria often in play.
When human judgment is still required
LawFairy's boundary is deliberate. Where interpretation or discretion is central, the system generates a triage analysis and a fully reasoned case file for hand-off to a traditional firm. That changes how matters arrive: users get completed eligibility assessments, facts translated into structured legal analysis and an audited reasoning trail.
Regulatory posture and governance
The SRA-regulated entity providing legal services is LawFairy Services. A separate company, LawFairy Ltd, develops and licenses the technology and is not SRA-authorised. For solicitors, that corporate split will matter for engagement, supervision and procurement.
Commenting on the approval, Nick Leale of CM Murray called it a test of the SRA's confidence in models that must avoid bias and hallucinations while protecting confidential data. He noted the need for clear client information on how services are delivered and overseen, and emphasised maintaining a bridge between legal text and evolving real-world fact patterns-even in apparently simple disputes. For regulatory context, see the SRA's standards and guidance on authorised firms here.
What this means for legal teams
- Predictable outcomes in rule-heavy matters: Deterministic logic can reduce variance and front-load certainty for clients.
- Auditable advice files: Reasoning packs create a defensible record, useful for internal QA, regulator inquiries and appeals.
- Sharper intake and triage: Complex matters arrive with structured facts and issues flagged, improving supervision and time to value.
- Scope boundaries matter: This model fits statutory tests and thresholds; grey-area disputes still require solicitor judgment.
- Governance checkpoints: Conflicts, data security, model change control, and supervision protocols should be verified before adoption.
Precedent and market signal
In May last year, Garfield.Law became the first AI-driven firm approved by the SRA, offering SMEs a litigation assistant for small claims debt recovery up to £10,000. The greenlight for LawFairy arrives as sector leaders view AI as both transformative and high-risk-cost pressure and demand for certainty are clearly pulling in this direction.
Founder's stance on scope and access
Panasar argues that large areas of law are governed by precise rules that do not require discretion-what they require is disciplined, consistent application. "Authorisation demonstrates that our model, when structured around verifiable rules and robust governance, can meet the same regulatory standards as any other authorised firm. We believe it also opens regulated legal services to people who currently find them too costly or uncertain to pursue."
Practical next steps for firms
- Pilot deterministic tools on high-volume, rule-based workflows (e.g., immigration eligibility screening, licensing, benefits eligibility).
- Build an internal review rubric: input provenance, versioned rule sets, error-handling, escalation triggers and post-decision audits.
- Revisit client care letters and engagement terms to clarify scope, model use, supervision and data handling.
- Train fee-earners and paralegals on reading and validating reasoning packs, not just outcomes.
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