January 2026 outlook: legal operations leadership in UK local government

January is always a moment to reflect and look ahead.

As we move into 2026, legal operations in UK local government are under more pressure than ever shaped by sustained financial constraint, increasing demand for legal support, and rising expectations around pace, assurance and value.

The operational challenges are familiar:

• Delivering effective legal services in the context of severe budget pressures and workforce constraints
• Supporting high volumes of complex work across governance, public law, employment and safeguarding
• Balancing risk management with the need for speed, pragmatism and consistency
• Embedding systems, data and processes that support decision-making rather than slow it down

But 2026 also presents a real opportunity to rethink how legal services are delivered.

As a Legal Operation Strategic Lead, our focus must be on:

• Designing legal services that are sustainable, resilient and aligned to organisational priorities
• Using data, workflow and technology to improve transparency, capacity planning and performance
• Standardising where it adds value, while retaining flexibility for high-risk and politically sensitive matters
• Enabling lawyers to focus on strategic and complex work by improving triage, self-service and early intervention

Legal operations is no longer a support function, it is a strategic lever. Done well, it strengthens governance, improves outcomes and helps councils make confident, lawful decisions under pressure.

In 2026, legal operations leadership will be central to how local authorities manage risk, deliver value and continue to serve communities effectively.

I’m looking forward to working collaboratively across the sector to build legal services that are not just compliant, but operationally strong, future-focused and fit for what lies ahead.

Salena Ahamed is Legal Operations Strategic Lead at Reading Borough Council.