LOCS:23 One Year On – The Standard Gains Momentum

LOCS:23 One Year On – The Standard Gains Momentum

In an age where data breaches make headlines and properly protecting client data is a hallmark of a trusted organisation, legal professionals and suppliers to the industry are facing increasing demand to demonstrate their commitment to data protection.  

The Legal Services Operational Privacy Certification Scheme (‘LOCS:23’) is the first sector-specific UK GDPR certification standard – and it has been gaining significant traction. 

In just over a year, LOCS:23 has evolved from a new standard into a recognised benchmark for secure data protection across the legal sector. With official approval from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), its first high-profile certifications and a final UKAS approval for its certifying body, the scheme is now fully operational.  

What is LOCS:23? 

LOCS:23 is the first UK GDPR certification specifically designed for law firms, chambers in-house legal teams and their solution partners. 

It has been developed to assist law firms and barristers’ chambers in meeting their GDPR obligations and to give clients confidence that their data is fully protected.  

With recent high profile data breaches in the legal sector, demand for stronger data security and regulatory compliance continues to rise. Many legal organisations are now recognising that LOCS:23 certification is not only a protective measure — but also provides a competitive advantage. 

Why has LOCS:23 become so prominent over the last year?  

Although the idea for LOCS:23 was born nearly three years ago, 2024 marked a major turning point. In February 2024, the ICO officially approved the standard, confirming its legitimacy and establishing it as a benchmark for GDPR compliance within the legal sector. 

Certification Milestones: 

June 2024 

  • Wales’ largest chambers, 30 Park Place, become the first UK chambers to become certified under LOCS:23.
  • Briefed became the first supplier to the legal sector to be certified.
  • The LOCS:23 scheme gains full UKAS approval after its first organisations are successfully certified 

These milestones signalled that the standard was not just theoretical, but achievable. 

July 2024 

  • Leading international law firm Osborne Clarke followed suit, becoming the first law firm to achieve certification. This underlined the universal nature of the Certification – achievable by chambers and firms of all sizes and opening the door for broader adoption across the sector. 

March 2025 

  • ADISA, the LOCS:23 certification body, received full UKAS approval, completing the official ICO certification process. This final seal of approval has solidified LOCS:23 as a credible, fully ratified certification scheme.
  • The 36 Group became the first London-based chambers to achieve certification.
  • Muckle LLP became first firm in Northern England to achieve certification. 

What’s Next for LOCS:23? 

With the ICO and UKAS approvals complete, LOCS:23 is now a fully supported certification scheme. The focus now turns to scaling adoption. Legal organisations that want to remain competitive — and compliant — are recognising that now is the time to begin their LOCS:23 journey. 

To support this, we offer a readiness assessment that helps firms and chambers assess their current position, identify compliance gaps, and build a realistic roadmap — even if full certification isn’t immediately on the horizon. 

Interested in starting your LOCS:23 journey? 

Our in-house barristers are LOCS:23 specialists, with extensive experience helping clients prepare for and pass the certification.  

As a team of LOCS:23 specialists, we have a proven track record of success, assisting 36 Group and guiding other clients like 30 Park Place and Muckle LLP to a successful LOCS:23 certification.  

To date, we’ve assisted over 80% of certified firms pass independent audit. 

We have also undertaken the certification ourselves, successfully achieving LOCS:23 certification as a legal services supplier. This firsthand experience gives us unmatched insight into the requirements, challenges, and best practices needed for success.   

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