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
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

Speaker:
Fiona Anthony, University of East Anglia

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 

Tea and comfort break 

 

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
Laura Pinkney, NLS Legal
tbc, Government Legal Department

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 

Networking drinks