Supporting aspiring lawyers:
from learning to practice
One day conference, Friday 4 July 2025
Linklaters, London
Programme
08.45
Registration desk opens
09:30 - 09:40
Welcome and opening remarks
Robert Heslett CBE, CAB Chair
09:40 - 10:20
What does the future of the SQE look like?
Chair: David Amos, City St George's, University of London
Speaker: Julie Swan, Solicitors Regulation Authority
This session will cover learning from the delivery of the SQE so far and the development of the training market.
10:20 - 11:05
Views from aspiring lawyers
This session will give us the chance to hear from aspiring lawyers about how they have approached their qualification journey, from choosing a course, to planning their work experience to immediate areas for development once qualified.
11:05 - 11:35
Coffee break and networking
11:35 - 12:20
Skills to take you into the workplace
Chair: Darren Weir, University of Kent
Speakers:
Delphine Loo, Singapore Academy of Law
Chris Sykes, Manchester Metropolitan University
This session will highlight essential skills in areas like advocacy and negotiation, which aspiring lawyers need to develop to be workplace-ready in 2025, focusing on innovative techniques UK & international educators are using to develop these skills.
12:20 - 13:05
Wellbeing in legal education and into practice
Speakers:
Emma Jones, University of Sheffield
Antoinette Moriarty, Law Society of Ireland
Ainslie Wilson-Shearer, Mills & Reeve
This session will draw on the recent Life in the Law 2025 research undertaken by LawCare and the IBA guidelines for wellbeing in legal education to explore how universities and employers can best support the wellbeing needs of new entrants to the legal profession, in particular in smoothing the transition from legal education to legal practice.
13:05 - 14:00
Lunch and networking
14:00 - 15:00
Breakout 1: Diversity - different legal routes, different legal careers
Speakers:
Judith Bourne, CILEX Law School
Madeleine Jenness, Association of Costs Lawyers Training / Hook Tangaza
Claire Richardson, Council for Licensed Conveyancers
This session will explore the academic training needs of recognised legal professions in England and Wales and highlight how employers can manage the successful onboarding of diverse early legal career entrants into their organisations.
Breakout 2: Building a local economy – the connections between law schools, employers & graduate success
Chair: Helen Chalk, Manchester Metropolitan University
Speakers:
Fiona Anthony, University of East Anglia
Amy Barden & Naomi Newell, Birketts
This session will explore the importance of relationships between law schools, local employers and employer groups in providing legal work for aspiring lawyers to support the effective transition of legal graduates into the local legal community.
Breakout 3: What role for university law clinics?
Speakers:
Denise Bentley, First Love Foundation
Lucy Blackburn, University of Central Lancashire & CLEO
Omar Madhloom, University of Southampton
This session will consider both the role of law clinics in preparing students for the world of work and their role in helping to address the UK’s access to justice crisis.
15:00 - 15:20
Coffee break and networking
15:20 - 16:05
Title tbc
This session will focus on international higher education strategy.
16:05 - 16:50
Getting a foot on the ladder – the role of work experience
Speakers:
John Cuss, Hudgell Solicitors
Bandy Karki & Nagam Din, Government Legal Department
Laura Pinkney, NLS Legal
This session will focus on how both training providers and employers can help aspiring lawyers get on that all important first step of the work experience ladder.
16:50 - 17:00
Closing remarks
Robert Heslett CBE, CAB Chair
17:00 - 18:00