Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of 8 April 2026, from the State Secretariat for Justice, publishing the Agreement with Pontifical University Comillas for the development and use of technologies in the legal sector |
|---|---|
| Publication | 17 April 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified |
| Affected parties | Legal professionals, legal operators, administration of justice and legaltech sector |
| Category | Education / Legal technology |
| BOE Reference | BOE-A-2026-8458 |
Law firms, legaltech companies and legal operators have a new reason to review their technology roadmap. The State Secretariat for Justice has signed a collaboration agreement with Pontifical University Comillas aimed at the development and implementation of technologies in the legal sector, published in the BOE on 17 April 2026 with reference BOE-A-2026-8458.
This type of agreement between the Administration and the university is not merely academic: it marks the direction in which public justice will evolve technologically, and that has direct consequences for those operating in the private sector.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement between the State Secretariat for Justice and Pontifical University Comillas establishes a collaboration framework covering four major areas of activity:
- Applied research: development of studies and projects focused on legal technology.
- Specialized training: training of legal professionals in digital competencies.
- Development of digital tools: creation of technological solutions for judicial management and automation of legal processes.
- Knowledge transfer: transfer of academic and technological results to the Administration of Justice.
The agreement specifically provides for the development of pilot projects in artificial intelligence applied to justice, with the aim of improving procedural efficiency and modernizing public legal services.
This is not a regulation that imposes direct obligations on companies or professionals. Its scope is institutional, but its impact on the private sector will be progressive and relevant.
Economic and operational impact
This agreement does not generate direct costs or sanctions for private companies. However, its operational and strategic impact is real in several areas:
| Area of impact | Consequence for the private sector |
|---|---|
| AI pilot projects in justice | Law firms and operators that do not adapt their processes to digital tools may be at a competitive disadvantage against an administration that automates. |
| Training in digital competencies | Demand for legal professionals with technological knowledge will increase. Law firms will need to review their internal training plans. |
| Development of public digital tools | Solutions developed under the agreement framework may become standards or references for the private legaltech sector. |
| Knowledge transfer | Results from the agreement may anticipate future regulatory requirements on digitalization in the legal field. |
For legaltech companies, this agreement represents both an opportunity—possible collaborations or derived contracts—and a signal that the State is building its own capabilities in legal technology.
Who does it affect?
- Law firms: must anticipate that their clients and courts will operate with more advanced digital tools. Automation of legal processes will change work times and formats.
- Legaltech companies: the agreement may generate pilot projects that compete with private solutions or, conversely, create opportunities for collaboration with the Administration.
- Legal operators (solicitors, notaries, registrars): modernization of the administration of justice directly affects work flows and communication systems with courts.
- Legal departments of companies: improved procedural efficiency may reduce litigation times, but will also require adaptation to new digital platforms and formats.
- Professionals in training and law universities: the Comillas-Justice collaboration may set a trend in curricula and competencies required of new legal professionals.
- Administration of Justice: courts, prosecutors' offices and other bodies that may directly benefit from the tools and pilots developed.
Practical example
A medium-sized law firm specializing in civil litigation currently works with its own document management systems and communication with courts. Within the framework of this agreement, the Administration develops together with Comillas an artificial intelligence tool for automatic classification of procedural documents and prediction of resolution times.
If that tool is deployed as a pilot in first instance courts, the law firm will have to adapt its work flows to the new system: document presentation formats, deadlines adjusted to automated response times and, possibly, new requirements for digital signatures or metadata.
The cost of adaptation does not come from a sanction, but from the need to update internal processes, train the team and, in some cases, hire new compatible tools. Law firms that anticipate this evolution will have an advantage over those that wait for it to become mandatory.
What should companies do now?
- Identify your level of exposure: evaluate to what extent your activity depends on judicial processes or the administration of justice. The greater that dependence, the more relevant monitoring of this agreement will be.
- Review your technology roadmap: if your law firm or organization does not have a plan for legal digitalization, now is the time to start one. The direction marked by the Administration is clear: automation, AI and digital competencies.
- Follow the pilot projects that develop: the AI pilots in justice that emerge from this agreement will be the clearest signal of what operational changes are coming. Stay informed through the BOE and publications from the State Secretariat for Justice.
- Invest in digital training for your legal team: demand for professionals with legal technology competencies will grow. Train your team now, before it becomes a market requirement.
- Explore collaboration opportunities if you are legaltech: agreements of this type usually lead to tenders, pilot projects and public contracts. Review public procurement platforms to identify related opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
What specific projects does the Justice-Comillas 2026 agreement include?
The agreement contemplates applied research, specialized training, development of digital tools and knowledge transfer. It also provides for pilot projects in artificial intelligence applied to justice and automation of legal processes.
Does this agreement affect private law firms?
Yes, indirectly. The agreement may anticipate regulatory and technological trends that affect private law firms and legal operators, especially regarding process automation and required digital competencies.
When does the agreement between the Ministry of Justice and Comillas enter into force?
The resolution was published on 17 April 2026. The entry into force date is not specified in the published regulation.
What is the legaltech sector and why does this agreement affect it?
Legaltech groups companies and professionals that develop technological solutions for the legal field. This agreement may generate pilot projects and technological standards in public justice that condition the private market for legal solutions.
Where can I consult the full text of the Justice-Comillas agreement?
The full text is available in the BOE with reference BOE-A-2026-8458, published on 17 April 2026.