Data licensing guide
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Licensing a law firm's data for AI: what's possible, and the professional rules

By Ade Molajo · Updated · How we check figures · Not legal advice · Not reviewed by a lawyer

Quick answer

Law firms are among the most wanted, with low minimums: Mode takes firms from 6 staff and Mercor from 5, listing law firms at $50K–$1.25M. But most of a firm's records are client material. The SRA Code says you keep clients' affairs confidential unless they consent or the law permits disclosure, and privilege can be lost. Your own know-how, precedents and process documents are the realistic starting point.

$50K–$1.25M
Mercor's published range for law firms
6+ / 5+
minimum staff at Mode / Mercor
SRA 6.3
client confidentiality applies to every licence
Know-how
is the safest place to start

01What the programmes publish for law firms

Published ranges that apply to law firms: micro1 tiers from $100K to $2M and up; Mode $100K to $5M; Mercor’s Law Firm listing $50K to $1.25M.$0$1M$2M$3M$4M$5Mmicro1$100K–500K · $500K–2M · $2M+micro1.ai/data-partnerships · 30 Oct 2026Mode$100K–$5M per companydata.mode.inc · 30 Oct 2026Mercor: Law Firm$50K–$1.25Mdata.mercor.com/refer · 30 Oct 2026
Each programme’s own published range, checked 30 October 2026. Ranges, not offers.
micro1ModeMercor
RangeTiers $100K–500K to $2M+$100K–$5M$50K–$1.25M (law firm listing)
Minimum size30+ full-time staff6+5–300 attorneys and staff
LocationUS first; strong UK demandUS strongest; others case by caseUS preferred
What it wantsSOPs, knowledge bases, project historiesEmail, documents, chat, CRM, billing"Complete files from closed matters and completed deals"

Each programme's own pages, checked 30–31 October 2026. Ranges, not offers.

Where these records usually live

Practice and document management

  • Clio
  • iManage
  • NetDocuments
  • LEAP

Documents and email

  • SharePoint
  • Google Drive
  • Outlook

Billing and time

  • Xero
  • QuickBooks

Examples of common tools, to help you find your records. Product names and logos belong to their owners; no affiliation or endorsement.

Law firms are a sought-after source because legal work is document-heavy, structured and expert. That's also why the professional rules bite hardest here.

02The rules that decide what you can license

Client confidentiality

The SRA Code of Conduct says you keep the affairs of current and former clients confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law, or the client consents (paragraph 6.3). That duty doesn't end when the matter closes. The SRA's confidentiality guidance covers it in more detail.

So a closed-matter file is, by default, confidential client information. Licensing it to an AI company is a disclosure to a third party.

Privilege

Legal advice privilege and litigation privilege belong to the client, not the firm. Disclosing privileged material outside the circle of confidence risks losing it, and a firm can't waive privilege for its client. Leave privileged material out unless the client has given informed consent and you've taken advice.

Data protection

Client files are full of personal data: clients, counterparties, witnesses. UK GDPR applies to all of it. See our UK GDPR guide.

03What a firm can realistically license

  • Precedents and templates you drafted, with client details removed.
  • Know-how notes, practice guides and checklists.
  • Internal process documents: file opening, conflict checks, matter management, billing workflows.
  • Training material written by your own people.

Client files from closed matters are possible only with each client's informed consent, a proper anonymisation process, and advice. Mercor's listing asks for exactly that material, so read its scope closely before you apply.

Law firms: usually licensable (Precedents and templates you drafted; Know-how notes and practice guides; File-opening, conflicts and billing processes; Training material by your own people) versus check first or leave out (Client files, open or closed; Privileged advice; Anything an engagement letter restricts; Personal data of clients and counterparties).Usually licensablePrecedents and templates you draftedKnow-how notes and practice guidesFile-opening, conflicts and billing processesTraining material by your own peopleCheck first, or leave outClient files, open or closedPrivileged adviceAnything an engagement letter restrictsPersonal data of clients and counterparties
A starting point for scoping, not a legal test.

04Before you apply

  1. Talk to your COLP: this is a confidentiality question first.
  2. Separate firm-owned know-how from client material.
  3. Check engagement letters for anything about use of client documents.
  4. Ask each programme what it does with privileged and client-confidential material.
  5. Have a lawyer outside the deal read the licence.

This is general information, not legal advice, and it hasn't been reviewed by a lawyer. See also is it legal to sell company data?

05Get the free guide for law firms

The Data Licensing Guide for Law Firms covers all of this in a 15-page PDF: what a firm can license, what confidentiality and privilege keep out, each programme's published figures, a worked example, and the questions to ask before you sign.

06Check which programmes you're likely to match

Our free fit check asks about your size, location and records, then shows which programmes you're likely to match. The programme decides.

07Questions people ask

Can a law firm sell its data to AI companies?

It can license material it owns and isn't bound to keep confidential, such as its own precedents, process documents and know-how. Client files are a different matter under the SRA Code and the law of privilege.

Can we license closed client matters if they're anonymised?

Take advice and, realistically, client consent. Confidentiality survives the end of a matter, anonymisation of legal files is hard to do properly, and privilege may be lost if privileged material is disclosed.

How small a firm can apply?

Mode publishes a minimum of 6 staff for legal, and Mercor lists law firms of 5–300 attorneys and staff. micro1 wants 30+ full-time staff.

Does the SRA allow this?

The SRA hasn't published rules on licensing data for AI training. Its Code's confidentiality duty and its guidance on AI apply. Speak to your COLP and, if needed, the SRA's ethics helpline.

Sources

Check which programmes you’re likely to matchA few short questions, about a minute. Free, no sign-up. The programme decides who qualifies.trackimpact.io/data →