Jurisdiction: England & Wales
All analysis produced by AI Legal UK is scoped exclusively to the laws of England and Wales. This is not a UK-wide tool -- Scots law and Northern Ireland law are explicitly out of scope.
Why England & Wales Only
England and Wales share a single legal system that is distinct from Scotland (which has its own court system, land law, and contract law principles) and Northern Ireland (which has separate legislation in many areas). Mixing jurisdictions would produce unreliable analysis.
WARNING
Never add references to Scottish statutes (e.g., Land Registration (Scotland) Act 2012) or Northern Irish equivalents. Every skill file pins England & Wales as the jurisdiction.
Key Legislation by Category
Employment
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) | Day-one unfair dismissal rights, flexible working from day one |
| Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) | Core statutory employment rights, notice periods, redundancy |
| Equality Act 2010 | 9 protected characteristics, discrimination, harassment, victimisation |
| Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) | 48-hour week limit, rest breaks, holiday entitlement |
| National Minimum Wage Act 1998 | Minimum wage obligations, age bands |
| Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (ITEPA) | IR35, employment status, off-payroll working |
Data Protection
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| UK GDPR | Lawful bases (Art.6), data subject rights, controller obligations |
| Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) | UK-specific derogations, law enforcement processing |
| Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) | Cookies, direct marketing, electronic communications |
| Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 | Smart data schemes, recognised legitimate interest, digital verification |
Consumer Protection
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) | Unfair terms, digital content, remedies (repair/replace/refund) |
| Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) | Subscription traps, drip pricing, fake reviews, CMA enforcement |
| Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (CCR) | Distance selling, 14-day cooling-off, pre-contract information |
| Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA) | Unreasonable exclusion clauses, negligence liability |
Corporate
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Companies Act 2006 | Director duties (ss.171-177), PSC register, execution (s.44), filing |
| Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) | Failure to prevent fraud, ID verification, corporate criminal liability |
Property
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Housing Act 1988 | Assured shorthold tenancies, Section 21/Section 8 notices |
| Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954) | Security of tenure for business tenancies |
| Renters' Rights Act 2025 | Section 21 abolition, periodic tenancy conversion, pet provisions |
| Land Registration Act 2002 | Registered title, overriding interests, electronic conveyancing |
| Tenant Fees Act 2019 | Prohibited payments, 5-week deposit cap |
| Leasehold Reform Act 2022 | Leasehold enfranchisement, ground rent caps |
Anti-Money Laundering
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) | CDD, EDD, risk assessment, MLRO appointment |
| Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) | SAR reporting, money laundering offences, confiscation |
| Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA) | OFSI sanctions, overseas territories AML |
Intellectual Property
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) | Copyright ownership, moral rights, fair dealing, AI-generated works (s.9(3)) |
| Patents Act 1977 | Employee inventions (ss.39-43), patentability |
| Trade Marks Act 1994 | Registration, infringement, comparative advertising |
| Trade Secrets (Enforcement, etc.) Regulations 2018 | Misappropriation, interim injunctions |
Dispute Resolution & Debt
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) | Pre-action protocols, Part 36 offers, fixed recoverable costs |
| Arbitration Act 1996 | Arbitration agreements, seat of arbitration, challenges |
| Limitation Act 1980 | 6 years simple contract, 12 years deed |
| Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998 | 8% + BoE base rate for B2B debts |
| Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) | Regulated agreements, consumer debt protections |
| Insolvency Act 1986 | Statutory demands, winding-up petitions, administration |
Wills & Probate
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Wills Act 1837 | Execution requirements (s.9), witness rules (s.15) |
| Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHTA) | Nil-rate band, RNRB, BPR, APR, charity exemption |
| Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 | Claims for reasonable financial provision |
| Mental Capacity Act 2005 | LPAs, capacity tests, Court of Protection |
Immigration
| Act | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Immigration Rules (HC 395) | Points-based system, Skilled Worker route, salary thresholds |
| Immigration Act 2014 | Right to Work checks, civil penalties (up to £60,000 per worker) |
ESG & AI
| Act / Guidance | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Modern Slavery Act 2015 | Section 54 transparency statements, supply chain obligations |
| SRA Standards and Regulations | Solicitor conduct, technology use, client confidentiality |
| ICO AI Guidance | Fairness, transparency, lawful basis for AI processing |
Common Law Principles
AI Legal UK also references key common law principles where applicable:
- Banks v Goodfellow (1870) -- testamentary capacity test for wills
- Restraint of trade doctrine -- reasonableness of restrictive covenants
- Unfair prejudice (Companies Act 2006, s.994) -- minority shareholder protection
- Hadley v Baxendale -- remoteness of damage in contract
- Caparo Industries v Dickman -- duty of care test
Regulatory Bodies
| Body | Remit |
|---|---|
| ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) | Data protection enforcement, UK GDPR, PECR |
| SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) | Solicitor conduct, law firm regulation |
| FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) | Financial services, consumer credit, fintech |
| CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) | Consumer protection enforcement, merger control |
| HMRC | Tax compliance, IR35, PAYE, VAT, SDLT |
| Companies House | Company registration, filing, PSC register |
| OFSI (Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation) | Sanctions compliance, financial restrictions |
| OPG (Office of the Public Guardian) | LPA registration, deputy supervision |