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You already know the pressures: tighter budgets, growing demand, and a legislative landscape that never slows down. But beyond the familiar challenges, new patterns are emerging around technology, talent, and team structure that are reshaping what in-house legal work looks like in the public sector.

In this blog, we’ll unpack the latest survey insights and bring in new data from major UK studies on public sector performance.

You’ll find out:

Recent research by ����ɫ���� UK reveals the top challenges facing in-house legal departments in the public sector, and the results reflect a sector both stretched and in transition.

None of these are new problems, but the intensity is growing.

Here's how to stay up to date in the current legal world

The sheer pace of legal change across areas such as procurement, planning, housing, and data protection is making it harder than ever for lawyers to stay on top of what’s new and what’s next.

This isn’t just an anecdotal observation. The , developed in partnership with CIPFA, highlights a rise in legislative and regulatory change as a major pressure point across public services. Legal teams must constantly interpret and apply this evolving landscape, often without a corresponding increase in headcount or support.

One respondent put it simply: “The law is changing faster than our systems can keep up.”

Challenge 2: The talent conundrum

Public sector legal departments have long struggled with attracting and retaining talent, especially when competing against private sector salaries. But it’s more than just money. Younger lawyers increasingly want flexibility, better tech, and opportunities for growth.

Yet many public bodies are constrained by outdated HR policies and limited career progression. The found that while public sector management scores are comparable to the private sector, talent development lags behind in many organisations.

This creates a retention risk, just when continuity and deep institutional knowledge are more critical than ever.

Rising costs and tight budgets remain a constant challenge. With inflation hitting service delivery, legal departments are under pressure to do more with less.

The paints a stark picture. In essence, spending power is down, demand is up, and public services are facing another wave of workforce and resource challenges. Legal teams are feeling the squeeze, forced to find efficiencies without compromising on service or risk.

What’s changing?

It’s encouraging to see investment and digital capability creeping back onto the agenda. And it’s not just talk. The (2024) outlines plans to better measure and improve service productivity, recognising that smarter tech use, improved management practices, and better data are key to performance gains.

At a more local level, the shows how performance frameworks and continuous improvement models can help legal teams stay strategic, even amid operational pressure.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re in a public sector legal role, these findings are both a warning and a call to action:

• Prioritise tech skills: Whether it’s understanding AI-assisted legal tools or making better use of case management systems, digital fluency is becoming a must-have
• Push for smarter resourcing: Flexible support models, whether secondments, panel firms, or legal temps, can help your team stay nimble and avoid burnout
• Make the case for investment: Don’t just accept a flat budget. Use benchmarking, risk data, and real-world examples to show why investment in legal tech or training pays off
• Stay connected: Peer networks, legal update tools, and strategic partnerships (with procurement, HR, or IT) can help you keep pace with legal changes without going it alone.