LondonLawyer
CENTRAL
XXXXXXXXXXXX
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE WESTMINSTER & HOLBORN LAW SOCIETY
|
SUMMER 2026
AI, Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Twinned Bar Visit from Palermo Developing as a Junior Solicitor London Legal Walk 2026 CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 1
The Future Lawyer: XXXXXXXXXXXX
What Women Leaders Need to Know About Gen Z Lawyers
One thing is increasingly clear: the future of law won’t look like the past—or even like today. Gen Z lawyers are reshaping the profession with non-negotiable expectations for flexibility, balance, and purpose-driven work. For today’s women leaders, this shift offers a unique opportunity to future-proof their firms by understanding what drives the next generation so they can embrace change and build practices that are not only sustainable, but exceptional. To successfully modernise their operations, women partners and practice managers need to understand who Gen Z lawyers are—and what they expect from their employers. Who are Gen Z lawyers? Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z lawyers are the first generation to have grown up entirely in the digital age, with social media and near-instant access to information shaping their worldview from childhood. As a result, they tend to think, communicate, and work in a different way than earlier cohorts. Gen Z lawyers typically seek—and expect—flexible work schedules, genuine work-life balance, meaningful support, and modern technology that enables efficiency and collaboration. Today’s female partners and practice managers, many of whom have themselves navigated barriers to inclusion and progress in a traditionally male-dominated profession, are well placed to provide the equitable, empathetic leadership that Gen Z both values and responds to. Gen Z lawyers prioritise purpose, not just pay or prestige In a profession that has long measured success by salary, making partner, or working for a prestigious firm, Gen Z lawyers are shifting the focus. Put simply, for many, meaningful work and purpose now outweigh traditional markers of success. For example, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey found that 89% rate a sense of purpose as essential to their job satisfaction and wellbeing. This commitment is tangible: a recent survey from Major, Lindsey & Africa found that 52% of Gen Z associates would trade part of their salary for reduced billable hours, with female associates showing stronger preferences for this trade-off. For women leaders and recruiters, understanding this shift is key to creating roles and work environments that align with Gen Z’s values. For Gen Z, modern tech is non-negotiable Having grown up using technology to streamline and enhance everyday life, Gen Z lawyers expect the same efficiency and tech fluency in the workplace. They want to
2 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
use modern legal tech to work smarter, collaborate more easily, and deliver better outcomes. Supporting this, that same Deloitte survey found that 74% of Gen Z believe generative AI will impact the way they work within the next year. For women leaders, understanding this generational trait presents an opportunity to take a proactive approach—ensuring their firm’s technology is modernised and up to date, not only to strengthen operations but also to cultivate the kind of modern, forward-thinking environment that attracts and retains Gen Z legal talent. Gen Z lawyers value flexible, results-based work structures The shift towards flexible and hybrid working is well underway across the profession, but it holds particular appeal for Gen Z lawyers, who value efficiency and results over long hours and physical presence. For a generation acutely aware of the risks of burnout, flexibility and work-life balance are not perks—they’re necessities. By offering results-based working models, women leaders can boost wellbeing, build trust, and help create a work environment where Gen Z lawyers are able to professionally and personally thrive—without sacrificing productivity or client service. Gen Z lawyers want to be heard When it comes to workplace culture and hierarchy, Gen Z lawyers tend to value leadership styles that listen, incorporate feedback, and encourage collaboration. This presents a clear opportunity for women partners and practice managers to tailor how they guide and mentor emerging legal talent. Structured professional development opportunities, regular check-ins, and clear communication of expectations are key for building trust and supporting meaningful professional growth. The new generation of lawyers aren’t rejecting tradition, but they are, in many ways, redefining it. As the legal profession continues to evolve, today’s women leaders are well-positioned to guide the next generation of lawyers with empathy, flexibility, and foresight. While every lawyer has their own individual goals and motivations, of course, understanding the factors that tend to drive Gen Z can help firms attract top talent and build a more resilient, future-ready profession. Want to future-proof your firm for the next generation of legal professionals? https://www.clio.com/uk/schedule-a-demo/ to discover how Clio’s modern legal technology helps law firms attract, support, and retain Gen Z lawyers—on their terms.
PUBLISHER Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com
Contents 05
SALES MANAGER Catherine McCarthy
Committee
STUDIO MANAGER John Barry
12 Interview with
MEDIA No. 2201
LEGAL NOTICE © Benham Publishing Limited. None of the editorial or photographs may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers. Benham Publishing would like to point out that all editorial comment and articles are the responsibility of the originators and may or may not reflect the opinions of Benham Media. No responsibility can be accepted for any inaccuracies that may occur, correct at time of going to press. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us. DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are the views of the individual writers and not the society unless specifically stated to be otherwise. All statements as to the law are for discussion between members and should not be relied upon as an accurate statement of the law, are of a general nature and do not constitute advice in any particular case or circumstance.
14
For the Autumn 2026 edition Advertising Anyone wishing to advertise in Central London Lawyer please contact Catherine McCarthy before the copy deadline. 0151 236 4141 catherine@benhampublishing.com
14 More Than The Law:
16 Copyright Protection for AI Works
17 The Solicitor's
18
Charity
18 From Employment
Law to Adovira: Why I Built a Safer Approach to Employee Advocacy
COVER INFORMATION Photo: Image by Conny Schneider on Unsplash
23rd October 2026
Dr Tomasz Snarski
Developing as a Junior Solicitor
Members of the public should not seek to rely on anything published in this magazine in court but seek qualified Legal Advice.
Copy Deadline
Foreword
06 WHLS Officers 08 International
ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR Joanne Casey
PUBLISHED Summer 2026 © Benham Publishing Ltd.
05 President’s
24
20 Legal Walk 2026 24 AI, Ethics and
Professional responsibility: What Solicitors Must Understand in 2026
33 Book Report
Editorial Members wishing to submit editorial please send to: Editor-in-Chief: Anita Winsome Editorial Board: Anita Winsome, Kene Onyeka Allison, Sarah Bradd and Ella Atkins.
Follow us on social media CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 3
XXXXXXXXXXXX
“No5 is a go-to chambers for employment work with quality counsel at all levels.” At No5 Barristers Chambers, our team of Employment barristers are highly skilled, user-friendly, and approachable. We are recognised as leaders in our field by Chambers UK and Legal 500. The Employment Group has long-standing relationships with a number of public sector organisations, in particular NHS Trusts throughout England and Health Boards in Wales, local authorities, and police institutions including both the Police Federation and police authorities. A number of our barristers are on the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel to the Crown. Our members regularly represent educational institutions, care providers, charities, and regulatory bodies. We have similarly extensive experience of private sector litigation, in particular banking and finance, logistics, energy, sport, manufacturing, and retail. Our experts also have experience in dealing with employment injunctions and investigations. Get in touch with our dedicated employment clerking team today at employment@no5.com for further information.
Our Expertise
The core practice of all members in the Group is Employment Tribunal litigation. Our expertise covers all possible claims within that forum, notably: Discrimination Whistleblowing Unfair dismissal Detriment TUPE claims including failure to inform and consult Redundancy including collective consultation Industrial action and trade union law
0345 210 5555 4 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
Equal pay Wages and contract claims Holiday pay Pensions Parental/maternity rights Interim relief
No5.com/employment
INTRODUCTION
The President’s Foreword SUMMER 2026 Suzanna Eames
A
s we move into autumn, many of us return from summer holidays with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Others may be approaching the months ahead with a degree of apprehension, knowing that September often heralds the start of a particularly busy period. Whether you are feeling refreshed, anxious, ambitious, or perhaps a combination of all three, this season marks an opportunity to reset, refocus and look ahead. The legal profession continues to experience a period of significant change. Technological advances, evolving client expectations and an increasingly complex global landscape are reshaping the way we practise. Against this backdrop, the theme of this edition, AI, Ethics and Professional Responsibility, could not be more timely. As artificial intelligence becomes ever more integrated into legal practice, we must embrace innovation while remaining steadfast in our professional obligations. The challenge before us is not simply how to use new technologies, but how to do so in a way that preserves the integrity, judgement and ethical standards that underpin our profession. This edition also celebrates the importance of connection, learning and community. I am delighted that we can share highlights from the Palermo Bar's visit to Westminster and Holborn, a reminder of the value of building relationships across jurisdictions and learning from different legal traditions. We also reflect on the Society's participation in the London Legal Walk, an event that showcases the legal profession at its best, coming together in support of access to justice for those who need it most. Supporting the next generation of lawyers remains one of the Westminster and Holborn Law Society's central priorities. I therefore encourage readers to explore our article on developing as a junior solicitor. The early years of practice can be both exciting and challenging, and it is incumbent upon all of us to foster environments in which junior lawyers can develop their skills, confidence and professional identity. Equally important is ensuring that our profession remains accessible, inclusive and representative of the communities we serve. We have highlighted former Law Society President I. Stephanie Boyce CBE's podcast, in which she calls for greater attention to the pressures affecting solicitors from different
background. She also highlights the Solicitors' Charity, who provide impartial, confidential and non-judgmental support for solicitors who may be reluctant to seek help. As we navigate the opportunities and challenges of the months ahead, I hope this edition provides both practical insights and cause for reflection. Above all, I hope it reminds us that while the profession continues to evolve, our greatest strengths remain our people, our values and our commitment to serving others. I wish you an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Suzanna Eames
President, Westminster & Holborn Law Society
“...The legal profession continues to experience a period of significant change. Technological advances, evolving client expectations and an increasingly complex global landscape are reshaping the way we practise...”
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 5
WHLS OFFICERS
WHLS OFFICERS
Suzanna Eames President Suzanna is a Senior Associate at Farrer & Co specialising in a broad range of private family law matters, including divorce, complex financial remedy cases, children matters, financial claims to support a child, jurisdictional disputes and pre and post-nuptial agreements. Suzanna has a long track record of supporting her legal community, having been a part of WHLS since 2018. In 2021-2022, Suzanna was Chair of the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society; she is particularly passionate about supporting the junior members of the legal profession. Outside of the law, Suzanna is a mum of two young boys and spends more time than she ever expected at soft play.
Amanda Lathia Vice President Amanda is a senior associate at law firm, Orr Litchfield, specialising in commercial and corporate law. She is passionate about finding business solutions for clients, from assisting on company law issues, to drafting or reviewing contracts to helping a business prepare for a future sale. Amanda joined WHLS in 2018, was co-chair of the Junior Lawyers Division from 2022 to 2024 and is excited to be Vice President of the society for 2025.
Aneesha Bhunjun Deputy Vice President Aneesha is a digital dispute resolution expert, specializing in resolving complex disputes in England & Wales and internationally. She also focuses on AI regulation in mediation and conflict resolution, alongside advocating for women’s rights in the judiciary. As Deputy Vice President, Aneesha is passionate about promoting diversity and equality within the legal profession. She channels her expertise into her work with the WHLS, supporting its members and driving positive change within the legal system. She is honoured and proud to serve as the Deputy Vice President and looks forward to making a lasting impact in this role.
Linda Felton Treasurer Linda is the founder of Fortune Green Legal Practice. She specialises in town and country planning law advising home owners, residents' groups and community action groups. She previously worked as a solicitor in local government. Linda is a long-standing member of the Westminster and Holborn Law Society, and since 2023 she has been its Treasurer. Linda is also an active member of the Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) and of Women In Property (South East). Since 2011, Linda has been a mentor on the professional mentoring scheme at City St Georges University Of London. She also regularly volunteers with her local parkrun.
Tanya Arackal Vice-Treasurer Tanya is currently a second year Trainee Solicitor at Dawson Cornwell. Tanya has worked on cases across the full spectrum of family law, including matrimonial finance and international children law. She has undertaken her own advocacy in the London County Courts, successfully obtaining non-molestation orders for vulnerable clients. She is a member of the YRes division of Resolution and a mentor with Lawyers Who Care, mentoring care-experienced aspiring lawyers. She was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s award from the University of Leeds for contribution to equality and diversity for starting her own organisation which provided a platform for women of colour. Tanya also created and leads the Aura Collective, a non-profit organisation that supports, through creative workshops, individuals who have experienced violence and abuse.
Lucy Clarke Co-Secretary Lucy is a newly qualified solicitor specialising in clinical negligence at JMW Solicitors LLP. She works on a wide range of claimant side clinical negligence matters arising from treatment that has gone wrong or a failure to treat that has resulted in severe injury. Lucy has been a co-secretary of the Westminster and Holborn Law society since 2024. She is looking forward to working with the new officers and the exciting year ahead!
Noaman Malik Co-Secretary Noaman Malik is a Trainee Solicitor at Farrer & Co. He studied History at the University of Glasgow, spending a year abroad at the University of Alabama, before completing the PGDL and an LLM in Legal Practice (SQE) at the University of Law. His previous experience includes working as a paralegal for an ultra-high-net-worth client on a politically sensitive and complex $2 billion civil action, working at a hedge fund, and interning at the Department for Business and Trade. He also serves as a Family magistrate.
Anita Winsome Editor in Chief Anita completed her LLM specialising in Comparative & International Dispute Resolution from Queen Mary University of London. She is a recipient of the SEED (Student Enhanced Engagement & Development) Award 2023 from the Humanities & Social Sciences department, QMUL. Her interests include domestic & international arbitration, competition law & intellectual property rights. She is a qualified lawyer in India and a licensed member (Advocate) of the Bar Council. Her favourite pastime activities include discovering beautiful cafes, exploring museums, and strolling around the royal parks near South Kensington.
Nicola Wainwright Immediate Past President Nicola Wainwright is a specialist clinical negligence solicitor with more than 20 years’ experience. She is a Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence-London at JMW Solicitors LLP. Nicola specialises exclusively in clinical negligence claims for patients arising from medical treatment that has gone wrong, or from a failure to provide medical treatment. She has expertise in a wide range of claims, but particularly those that are complex or that result in severe, life changing injuries. Nicola has been ranked in Chambers & Partners legal directory for 14 years. Nicola qualified as a solicitor in 1997 after training with Pictons. She is a member of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Accreditation Panel and an Association of Personal Injury (APIL) Senior Litigator. She is also a member of FOCIS (Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors), and the Association of Women Solicitors, London (AWSL) 6 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
WHLS EDITORIAL TEAM
WHLS EDITORIAL TEAM Kene Onyeka Allison Kene is an in-house solicitor at Mizuho International plc, a Japanese investment bank. She is dual-qualified in England & Wales and Nigeria. Her areas of specialisation are Debt Capital Markets and Derivatives. She volunteers in different capacities with different organisations with the aim of improving ethnic and minority diversity.
Sarah Bradd Sarah is a current trainee at Charles Russell Speechlys and has been a member of CWHLS since 2019. She enjoys contributing to the Central London Lawyer magazine and assisting the editorial team. In her free time, Sarah enjoys going on holiday to explore new places, eating at restaurants and watching films at the cinema.
Anita Winsome Anita completed her LLM specialising in Comparative & International Dispute Resolution from Queen Mary University of London. She is a recipient of the SEED (Student Enhanced Engagement & Development) Award 2023 from the Humanities & Social Sciences department, QMUL. Her interests include domestic & international arbitration, competition law & intellectual property rights. She is a qualified lawyer in India and a licensed member (Advocate) of the Bar Council. Her favourite pastime activities include discovering beautiful cafes, exploring museums, and strolling around the royal parks near South Kensington.
Ella Atkins Ella is currently an Associate at a PR and public affairs agency in London. A graduate of the University of Bristol, she has gained experience across the legal and policy sectors, having completed placements at DLA Piper, Dixon Ward Solicitors, and the Centre for Social Justice think tank. In addition, Ella is also a producer of Politics Inside Out, a podcast that lifts the lid on how Westminster really works.
Want to feature in Central London Lawyer?
To advertise in Central London Lawyer, please call Catherine McCarthy our Business Features Editor on 0151 236 4141 or email catherine@benhampublishing.com. CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 7
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Junior Lawyers in Cologne T
he FBE Young Lawyers Human Rights Oratory Competition will be held in Cologne from 22 to 24 October. Westminster & Holborn Law Society is seeking applications from members under 35 and under 5 years qualified, law students included. Do you fit the categories?
The top 4 candidates judged by the panel of distinguished members of the FBE, go on to the second part of the competition held on the morning of 24th October.
All candidates will be welcomed at a reception on Thursday 22nd October by the Cologne Bar Association who will host the competition.
We call for expressions of interest from JLD members as soon as possible, and by 31st August at the latest. Please contact sarachandler.lawsociety@gmail.com ■
After the results are declared, trophies and certificates will be presented in the afternoon, followed by lunch, marking the end of the competition.
The competition is in 2 parts. Day 1 Friday 23 October each candidate speaks for 10 minutes on the subject: " Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) is a 21st Century instrument of law. What does this mean for the future of the legal profession.?"
8 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
Professor Sara Chandler KC (Hon) Vice Chair WHLS International Committee
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
FBE Bucharest Congress
T
he FBE summer Congress was held from 11 to 13 of June in the beautiful city of Bucharest, where WHLS members participated actively in the Congress and the General Assembly. It was a great opportunity for our group, which consisted of Vice President Amanda Lathia, Treasurer Linda Felton, Co-Chair of International Committee Coral Hill, and Vice Chair of International Committee Sara Chandler, to network with lawyers from all over Europe. We were active in the Equality and Diversity Commission and the Human Rights Commission.
For the first time ever, a woman, Lucia Fabri from the Verona Bar, was elected to the key role of General Secretary of the FBE during the General Assembly. We were delighted to celebrate the junior lawyers who were awarded their prizes for the Human Rights Oratory Competition and for the International Legal Tech competition. The congress programme included panel discussions on Professional Secrecy and the anti-money laundering regulations, which were subject to lively discussion. In the evenings there were events where we were treated to wining and dining in sumptuous surroundings. ■
FBE Autumn Congress in Antalya
A
ll WHLS members are welcome to attend the FBE Autumn Congress in Antalya from 15 to 17 October. A team from the WHLS International Committee will be attending, and we welcome any members who would like to join them.
Please contact sarachandler.lawsociety@gmail.com for more information. ■ CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 9
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
International CommitteeTwinned Bar Visit from Palermo
O
n 2 July, President Suzy Eames welcomed a group of 5 lawyers from Palermo, including Michele Calantropo, their International Committee chair, to the Summer party. Coral Hill, Co Chair of the International Committee introduced the group to members. It was the most enjoyable event in the Apex Temple Hotel forecourt.
by tube and DLR to Greenwich Cutty Sark, where we visited maritime Greenwich. After a pleasant lunch we continued our afternoon by browsing through the ancient Greenwich indoor market, before saying goodbye to our guests.
WHLS members are always welcome to the International Committee events. The next overseas opportunity to meet with our twinned bar Next morning we met for a tour of the Law Society, and the Royal Courts colleagues from Ankara, Barcelona, Berlin, Bilbao, Cluj, Gdansk, of Justice, where we visited court rooms, and observed trials, as well as Krakow, Milan, Palermo, and Paris will be on 15 October in Antalya, the museum, which is of great interest. We enjoyed lunch in the Middle Turkey. ■ Temple Hall, thanks to Alex Kowalska. Then on to the Supreme Court and Parliament in the afternoon. The evening was celebrated in The Ship Tavern where we were joined by members of the International Vice Chair WHLS International Committee Committee.
Professor Sara Chandler KC (Hon)
On Saturday 4th we visited the Sir John Soane museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields, a free museum, highly recommended by members of the International Committee, who accompanied our guests. We then had a pleasant walk along the Embankment, over Waterloo Bridge and 10 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
International CommitteeTwinned Bar Visit from Palermo
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 11
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Interview with
Dr Tomasz Snarski Dr Tomasz Snarski is an advocate at the Pomeranian Bar Association, Chair of the International and Human Rights Committee of the Pomeranian Bar, and a member of the International Committee of the Polish Bar Association. He's an Assistant Professor at the University of Gdansk, a philosopher, poet, publicist, and social activist. admission. The Polish legal market is quite varied and you're not limited to being an advocate. You might become an attorney-atlaw, or take on other roles, and each requires its own particular traineeship. Either way, it takes several years before you're finally a practising lawyer. Alex: Thank you, Tomasz, for agreeing to this interview. We're at the University of Gdansk, which feels like the right place to reflect on a career that started right here. I'm very curious about your journey, did you always know you wanted to be a lawyer? Tomasz: Honestly, no. I never had a clear plan, and I didn't fully realise it myself at the time. I was drawn to anything connected with human beings: the humanistic side of things and law grew out of that interest. It wasn't a calculated career choice made with the future in mind, but more a case of picking the most solid option among several paths. I thought: law means a solid education and a solid job, so let's do that. And from there, you can branch into all sorts of fields beyond your original studies.
Alex: What does a typical day look like for you? Are you mostly a court lawyer, or is your practice more varied? Tomasz: Quite varied, since I wear a few hats. I'm an advocate, but also a researcher and lecturer at the University of Gdansk, in the Department of Substantive Criminal Law and Criminology. I also work on issues in contemporary legal philosophy. So I split my time between the university and my legal practice and no two days look the same: some involve court sessions, client negotiations, or reviewing contracts and B2B agreements. Others are given over to lectures, student meetings, or academic writing. Lately, I've done more expert work on human rights and legislative matters than courtroom appearances.
Alex: And is it difficult to become a lawyer in Poland? Could you tell us a bit about the route to qualification?
Alex: You're also Chair of the International and Human Rights Committee at the Pomeranian Bar Association. Why is it important for lawyers to get involved internationally?
Tomasz: I'm not sure how it compares to other countries, but broadly: after completing your five-year law degree, you go through a three-year bar traineeship, and then you sit the bar exam. Alternatively, you can pursue a PhD in law and apply for
Tomasz: Beyond the obvious appeal of meeting people and having new experiences, it's really about learning from others' examples and struggles, sharing knowledge, and building relationships. That kind ofOutgoing exposurePresident helps youNicola grow during and develop her speech
12 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE as a lawyer, and become more qualified. I think one of the most important things in our job isn't just knowing the rules and how the legal system functions. It's knowing people, cultures, and society. A lawyer who focuses only on the rules will probably stay an average lawyer. But one who understands different people, cultures, and legal systems will always be a step above. Alex: What's the biggest challenge for young lawyers today? Tomasz: I think it's the pace of change and that's a challenge for all of us, not just lawyers. What's valuable for your career one day can be outdated the next. Ten years ago, we hadn't even considered the impact social media would have on the legal profession, let alone AI and now both are simply part of everyday practice. I expect that pace to continue, perhaps with new questions around AI in the justice system. So the real challenge, and the real advantage if you can manage it, is learning to adapt to new things every day. Alex: Staying up to date is definitely a challenge! Would you have any advice for lawyers wanting to work more internationally? Where should they start?
Tomasz: With languages. This interview wouldn't happen without English. Language skills sharpen your thinking, imagination, argumentation, and understanding, they're core legal skills. A foreign language isn't just an extra alongside your native one. It opens the door to international cooperation, culture, and connection with people. English may be the modern Latin, and most of us already speak it reasonably well, but learning never really stops: through reading, films, and tackling increasingly complex legal work in English. Once you see that progress, being able to communicate with others without fear or limits becomes one of the most satisfying parts of the job. Alex: I couldn't agree more. Languages really do open doors and broaden horizons. Thank you for the interview, and I hope to see you in London! Tomasz: Thank you. ■
Alex Kowalska,
Co-Chair of the International Committee, Westminster & Holborn Law Society
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 13
JUNIOR LAWYER'S DIVISION
More Than the Law:
Developing as a Junior Solicitor
W
hen people think about becoming a solicitor, they often focus on the obvious milestones: completing a law degree or conversion course, passing the SQE/ LPC, securing a training contract and, ultimately, qualifying into practice. These are significant achievements, and rightly celebrated. However, once the excitement of qualification settles, many junior solicitors discover that developing as a lawyer involves far more than acquiring technical legal knowledge. The first few years in practice is where the legal theory you were taught at university meets professional reality. Every client, transaction and dispute presents a new challenge, and every supervising solicitor has a slightly different approach to problemsolving. Whilst technical competence remains the foundation of good legal practice, the qualities that distinguish exceptional solicitors are often those developed through experience rather than formal study.
14 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
Communication is perhaps the most important of these qualities. Clients rarely judge a solicitor solely on their knowledge of the law. They remember whether advice was clear, whether expectations were managed and whether they felt informed throughout the process. A well-timed update, a straightforward explanation of a complex issue or simply returning a call when promised can build confidence just as effectively as a well-drafted document. Good communication demonstrates professionalism, builds trust and strengthens long-term client relationships. The same principle applies within a firm. Junior solicitors quickly learn that developing effective working relationships with colleagues is just as important as building relationships with clients. Supervisors value junior lawyers who prepare thoroughly, identify potential issues and approach discussions with considered solutions rather than simply presenting problems. Equally, recognising when to ask questions is not a sign of weakness but of sound professional judgement.
JUNIOR LAWYER'S DIVISION
“...For junior solicitors, involvement in organisations such as local law societies offers an opportunity to broaden perspectives beyond the day-to-day demands of practice...” The legal profession has always relied on learning from those with greater experience, and the best practitioners never stop asking thoughtful questions. Another important lesson is understanding that perfection should not become an obstacle to progress. Many junior solicitors place considerable pressure on themselves to produce flawless work at every stage. High standards are, of course, essential. However, legal practice is also about exercising judgement, managing competing priorities and delivering practical advice within realistic timescales. Constructive feedback is an inevitable part of professional life, and every experienced solicitor can recall early drafts that returned heavily marked with comments. Those moments should be viewed not as setbacks, but as opportunities to improve. Alongside technical development, building a professional network is an investment that pays dividends throughout a legal career. Networking is sometimes perceived as attending events simply to exchange business cards or add connections on LinkedIn. In reality, it is about developing genuine professional relationships. Many of the most valuable conversations take place away from formal meetings, over coffee after a seminar, at a committee event or through introductions made by colleagues. These connections often lead to mentoring opportunities, referrals, collaborations and lasting professional friendships. For junior solicitors, involvement in organisations such as local law societies offers an opportunity to broaden perspectives beyond the day-to-day demands of practice. Engaging with practitioners from different firms, sectors and areas of law provides valuable insight into the profession as a whole. It also encourages the development of skills that are sometimes overlooked during the early years of practice, including leadership, public speaking, committee work and business development.
It is also worth remembering that legal careers are rarely straightforward. Few solicitors follow a perfectly linear path. Some discover a genuine interest in a practice area they had never previously considered. Others move between firms, transition into inhouse roles or pursue careers in regulation, academia or public service. Career progression is rarely defined by a single route, and remaining open to new opportunities often leads to the most rewarding professional experiences. Perhaps the most valuable lesson of all is realising that a successful legal career is built over time. Professional reputation develops through consistent reliability, integrity and sound judgement. It is reflected not only in the quality of legal advice, but also in how colleagues, clients and opponents experience working with you. These qualities cannot be developed overnight, but they are noticed, remembered and ultimately become the hallmarks of trusted advisers. As the legal profession continues to evolve, the importance of technical excellence remains unchanged. Yet the solicitors who leave the greatest impression are often those who combine legal knowledge with empathy, commercial awareness, professionalism and a willingness to continue learning throughout their careers. For those at the beginning of their journey, it is worth remembering that qualification is not the finish line, it is the beginning of a lifelong process of professional development. Law provides the foundation; experience, relationships and good judgement shape the solicitor you ultimately become.
by
Grace Makungu, Associate at Barnes Law
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 15
JUNIOR LAWYER'S DIVISION
Copyright Protection for AI Works Everyone has heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and many people have begun integrating it into their daily lives. Over the past few years, the prevalence of AI has soared and it has become an integral, somewhat inescapable, part of the internet. It has many uses, including being able to produce creative works such as art, videos, music, short stories, and many more. As stated by Judge Howell, ‘we are approaching new frontiers in copyright … as artists put AI in their toolbox’. Hence, it is clear the era of creations using AI is upon us, and as a result, the law must be able to accommodate it. Moreover, in early 2024, the Communications and Digital Committee examined the impact of AI on the UK creative industry and evidence was heard regarding the significant impact the developments that AI has had. Since then, AI has only grown and developed even further, making the creation of AI works more prevalent and accessible. The UK can be described as one of only a few countries that has already had a legal framework specifically addressing copyright for works that are computer-generated - the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 (The CDPA). When this was introduced it was praised as aiming to bring digital works within the scope of protection, allowing investment and advancement in this area. Nevertheless, when the law was enacted several years ago, it could not have accounted for the wide-spread application we are currently experiencing with AI, nor the constant and fastpaced advancement of this technology. As a result, there is now a lack of clarity in the Act, and no substantial case law on the matter. This has resulted in much speculation surrounding if AI works can be copyrighted, and if so, how. Additionally, there have been many contrasting opinions regarding whether AI works should even be able to be copyrighted at all. Many people believe AI should not be able to be copyrighted under the law due to the ease of creating works involving the lack of human input and due to the unknown end result. In certain situations, AI works can be created easily with minimal input from users. Using AI sites, such as ChatGPT, AI works can be created with merely a few simple prompts using short sentences. This brings the question of whether the limited interaction needed to create works meets the requirements for copyright. When considering this issue, it may be beneficial to look to a similar situation experienced in the past, relating to the copyright
16 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
of photography. Photographs are now recognised under copyright law, yet were not protected the same as other artistic work to begin with. While photography is a respected and recognised form of art, there was initially a dissatisfaction with the ease of creating a photograph. As a result, when this art form was emerging, it was argued copyright should not be granted to the photographer. Relative to other artistic mediums, certain people felt there was not enough skill, labour or judgement involved in the creation of some photographs, and a photograph could be created by merely pressing a button. Photography originally had lesser copyright protection compared to other types of works. It took extensive lobbying for the same level of protection to be eventually awarded under copyright law. In a similar way, AI merely requires inputting some brief prompts and can be considered an easy way to create works. This has led to arguments there is not enough input or level of difficulty to gain copyright protection. Yet, with protection being afforded to photography, can the same be applied to AI works? Secondly, with AI works there is the element of unknown in the end result compared to the input from a user. This is because there is little foresight regarding what the programming and software will formulate based on the prompts provided. Therefore, despite the ability for tailored prompts, it may be considered the user does not have direct control over the creation process. Once a prompt has been inputted, AI draws from a vast database of sources and implements machine learning to create the output. Since each element of the final work cannot be known or anticipated, there may not be an active enough role in the process to warrant protection by copyright. This would suggest a requirement of copyright is an element of foreseeability. Yet, this has not previously been a necessity in copyright law. Using the example of photography again, as shown in a 2012 copyright case (Temple Island Collections v New English Teas), even if the outcome of a photograph was completely unforeseeable to the photographer, left simply to chance, the threshold for copyright protection could still be met. Furthermore, imposing this requirement of foreseeability or knowledge of an end result would also impact a vast majority of other types of artwork. Many respected forms of art are created with an element of the unknown. For example, the famous works of Jackson Pollock, which use a technique described as ‘action painting’, splashing paint from all angles onto a canvas, creating an abstract and random result. Overall, this shows how art can be copyrighted, despite an incomplete understanding of the end result during the development process. Hence, it would be difficult to justify implementing such a restriction only for AI works and not other types of art.
Therefore, some of the main criticisms of AI works, such as the ease of creation alongside the lack of human input, and the limited foreseeability of the end result can be argued to share characteristics with other respected art forms and instead be an inevitable element in the creative process. For this reason, it may be seen AI works could be possible to protect through copyright. Nevertheless, alongside the applicability of the law, there are policy views that must also be accounted for. It is important to note the importance of the opinions of artists and the wider public when considering the matter of copyright of AI works. Generally, the public opinion tends to be against affording protection to AI works. In addition, this has seen to be reflected in Government policy papers considering the matter, for example the ‘Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence’ published earlier this year in 2026. This report acknowledges the existing law and discusses the compatibility of AI within the law, and importantly, the world. Most responses to the Government consultation for this report question the protection of AI works. Above all, it is apparent that the protection of human creativity should continue to be incentivised. Therefore, when looking to reform the law in this area, a balance must be struck to avoid restricting or diminishing the technological developments but continuing to protect AI from infringing on art created by people. In conclusion, while it may be possible under the legal framework to argue AI works can be afforded protection, there are strong opinions on whether AI works should be.
Jessica Farnsworth
MA Law Graduate
ARTICLE
Former Law Society President highlights need to support solicitors to thrive in the profession Former Law Society President Dr I. Stephanie Boyce CBE has called for greater attention to the pressures affecting solicitors from different backgrounds, after figures discussed in the latest episode of The Legal Pause showed a disproportionate number of Black solicitors seeking support from The Solicitors’ Charity. While around 3% of solicitors are Black across the profession, Black solicitors represented 15% of new people approaching The Solicitors’ Charity for support in 2025. In the episode, Dr Boyce describes the figures as concerning and says they should encourage further discussion about the barriers affecting who enters, progresses and thrives within the profession. She said: “We as a profession have to ask ourselves what is going on, and what we should be doing.” The comments feature in Episode 8 of The Legal Pause, titled “Breaking Barriers, Opening Doors and Supporting Wellbeing in Law.” Hosted by Nick Gallagher, CEO of The Solicitors’ Charity, the episode explores Dr Boyce’s journey into law, the barriers she faced, the persistence that shaped her career and the leadership lessons she learned along the way. Dr Boyce made history as the first person of colour to serve as President of the Law Society of England and Wales. She held the role for 19 months during an exceptional period shaped by the pandemic, Brexit and wider international unrest. During the episode, she reflects on the importance of listening, adaptability and humility in leadership, as well as the determination required to reach the presidency after three previous rejections. The discussion also considers why improving access to law is only part of the challenge. Dr Boyce argues that the profession must also focus on helping people remain, progress and thrive once they are in it.
The episode also explores redundancy and the impact of unexpected firm closures, with both Dr Boyce and Nick Gallagher reflecting on their own experiences of being made redundant. Now Chair of The Solicitors’ Charity, Dr Boyce shares her ambition for the organisation to become the “go-to” charity for everyone in the profession. The Solicitors’ Charity provides confidential, non-judgemental support across emotional, physical, professional and financial wellbeing. The episode explores how redundancy, financial pressure, career uncertainty, discrimination and mental or physical ill health can affect solicitors at different stages of legal life. Nick Gallagher said: “Stephanie’s experience brings together two important conversations for the profession. We need to continue removing barriers to access and progression, while also making sure that people already working in law have the support they need to stay and thrive. “The figures discussed in this episode deserve greater attention. They raise important questions about who is seeking support and what more we can do, collectively, to ensure that help is visible, accessible and available when it is needed.” The episode concludes with a direct message to solicitors who may be reluctant to seek help. Dr Boyce emphasises that support from The Solicitors’ Charity is impartial, confidential and non-judgemental, and that starting a conversation can be an important first step in resolving a problem. The Legal Pause – Episode 8 is available now on all major streaming platforms. Listen here: https://thesolicitorscharity.org/the-legal-pause/
She said: “Having done so much work getting people in, it is not enough just to stop there. We need to help people be sustained in our profession and thrive in our profession.”
17 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 17
ARTICLE
From Employment Law to Adovira:
Why I Built a Safer Approach to Employee Advocacy 18 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
ARTICLE
A
round 3 years ago, I joined Westminster & Holborn Law Society as a member of the International Committee. Since then, I have met lawyers from different practice areas, became Co-Chair of the Publicity & Social Media Committee, and found a professional community that has supported me throughout my journey. At our recent International Committee meeting, we celebrated another important milestone for me: the establishment of my company, Adovira. Sitting in the impressive meeting room at Farrer & Co, I was thinking how lucky I was to be there, to have support from the Society and to feel that I can share with my fellow members why I chose employee advocacy and how I connect it to employment law. The reason I launched Adovira goes back to my years practising employment law. In my most recent legal role, I represented businesses in Employment Tribunals all across the UK. Often, social media posts became part of the evidence bundle. Most of those cases were not about employees trying to deliberately offend someone or damage their employer’s reputation. They were more about carelessness and interpretation by others. Later, I started working with organisations on employee advocacy programmes, where employee ambassadors promote their employer on social media and beyond. I help organisations launch these programmes through training, support and advice. Since launching my first programme, I kept hearing the same concerns from ambassadors: "I do not know what to say." "I am afraid to say something wrong." And one more concern: "I do not have time." It became clear to me that these 3 barriers were preventing many talented professionals from sharing their expertise on LinkedIn. I started thinking of a solution (ideally all in one). I looked at the available technology that was designed to support employee advocacy, and I realised that they were designed around asking employees to repost corporate posts. However, I wanted to solve a different problem. I wanted the posts to be authentic, raw, and provide real value - the ones that people trust the most. Therefore, I started to dig deeper. With authentic posts, the challenge was how to ensure the posts do not breach the company’s social media policy and how to reduce the reputation and confidentiality risks. My vision was to make posting on LinkedIn feel simpler, safer, and more accessible while keeping employees in control of what they publish. That idea eventually became Adovira. The platform combines practical tools such as Voice-to-Post and content inspiration with the Splavska Framework, a multistep review system that checks posts against firm-specific social media policies and guidelines before publication. The aim is to help employees post more efficiently and with greater confidence. Employees are already posting on social media about their work. On LinkedIn, they associate themselves with their employer. The question is whether firms choose to support them with clear guidance and training, or leave them to navigate those decisions alone. For me, Adovira is my way to combine two areas that I like the most: employment law and social media. I keep working with employers, drafting social media policies and employee advocacy guidelines, and keep applying the same legal principles of responsibility, governance, and risk management to the way professionals communicate in the modern digital world. ■
Julia (Iuliia) Splavska Founder, Adovira Employment Lawyer
ANALYSIS FCIR
EXPERTS IN COLLISION INVESTIGATION
SPECIALISTS IN THE ANALYSIS OF ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS Providing tailored solutions for the investigation of incidents involving road users of all types COLLISION RECONSTRUCTION VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS EXPERT WITNESS WE ARE HAPPY TO DISCUSS YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS CONTACT US TODAY: 020 3004 4180 office@FCIR.co.uk www.FCIR.co.uk
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 19
LEGAL WALK 2026
Legal Walk 2026
T
he London Legal Walk took place on Tuesday 9th June. A Team from The Westminster and Holborn Law Society comprising Alicia Boyar, Suzanna Eames, Alina Hrachova, Sitki Tellioglu and Olena Melnyk took part on the 10km route. All participants had a great time and the team raised £220. Here are a selection of images taken from the Walk.
20 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
LEGAL WALK 2026
Legal Walk 2026
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 21
LEGAL WALK 2026
Legal Walk 2026
22 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
ARTICLE
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 23
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
AI, Ethics and Professional Responsibility: What Solicitors Must Understand in 2026 A
rtificial intelligence is now woven into the daily fabric of legal practice. Solicitors use AI assisted tools to research, draft, analyse documents, manage workflows and support client communication. Yet despite the speed of adoption, the regulatory landscape has remained deliberately principle based. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has not created an AI specific rulebook, because it doesn’t need to. The existing Principles, Code of Conduct and governance requirements already apply directly to AI use. In 2026, the message from the regulator is clear: AI is permitted, but solicitors remain fully responsible for the work it produces. This article sets out what solicitors must understand about AI, ethics and professional responsibility today and how educators and firms should teach and embed these expectations. 1. A New Direction: From Trust to Assurance The SRA’s February 2026 guidance confirms that AI use is allowed but regulated through existing standards. There are no special exemptions and no reduced obligations. AI is treated like any other tool: helpful, but requiring supervision, judgment and governance. Key expectations include: • Transparency with clients: firms must make clear when clients are interfacing with AI. • Confidentiality protections: client data must not be exposed to third party systems without safeguards. 24 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
• Competence and supervision: solicitors must understand AI well enough to verify its outputs. • Governance and oversight: COLPs and senior leaders must ensure responsible adoption and monitoring. This is not “light touch” regulation. It is principle driven accountability. 2. Confidentiality: The Most Immediate Ethical Risk Principle 7, confidentiality, applies fully to AI tools. Many consumer grade AI systems (e.g., public ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) send user inputs to third party servers and may use them for model training. If a solicitor pastes a client’s bundle into such a tool, the information has left the firm’s control. This is a breach of confidentiality, even if no harm occurs and even if the solicitor acted in good faith. The SRA expects firms to: • Use AI tools with architectural confidentiality, not merely promised confidentiality • Conduct due diligence on vendors’ data handling • Document where client data travels when AI is used • Treat AI tools that process client data as outsourced services. In 2026, confidentiality is not just a data protection issue, it is a core ethical competency. 3. Competence and Supervision: AI Does Not Reduce Responsibility The Code of Conduct requires solicitors to supervise work, ensure competence and maintain up to date knowledge. These duties apply directly to AI. Three obligations stand out: Outgoing President Nicola during her speech
EDUCATION AND TRAINING • A. Verification of AI Outputs: AI hallucinations remain a real risk. Any solicitor who relies on AI generated content without reviewing it is failing the competence requirement. • B. Qualified Sign Off: AI can draft, summarise, or analyse, but a qualified solicitor must approve the final work before it reaches the client. • C. Firm Wide Supervision: Supervision now includes oversight of AI systems, not just human staff. The SRA’s June 2026 supervision guidance (post Mazur) confirms that firms must apply a risk based supervision framework to all delegated work, including work performed by AI systems. This is a significant development: AI is now explicitly within the scope of supervision duties.
The SRA’s stance is simple but powerful: AI is allowed, but responsibility is never delegated. Solicitors must supervise AI, verify its outputs, protect client confidentiality, act with integrity and maintain governance structures that support safe and ethical use. For educators, this is a call to redesign learning around judgment, ethics and verification. For firms, it is a call to embed governance, transparency and oversight. For the profession, it is a reminder that technology may change the tools, but not the duties. AI is here. Professional responsibility remains. ■ Z
4. Integrity, Honesty and Transparency AI raises new questions about professional integrity: • You cannot pass off AI output as your own work if you have not checked it. • You must be honest with clients about whether AI was used. • You must act with integrity when evaluating risks associated with AI tools. These are not optional behaviours. They are mandatory professional standards. 5. Governance: AI Requires Organisational Maturity The SRA frames AI governance as a risk management exercise built on five pillars: leadership, risk assessment, documented policies, training and monitoring. Firms must be able to evidence: • Why a particular AI tool was chosen • How risks were assessed • What training staff received • How outputs are supervised • How unintended consequences are monitored
James Catchpole
Associate Professor and Director of Executive Education and Professional Engagement at The City Law School, Chair of the WHLS Education Committee
This is especially important for small and mid sized firms, where COLPs often carry broad responsibilities.
Andrew Acquier FRICS FNAVA
6. Pedagogy: How We Should Teach AI Ethics to Future Solicitors AI ethics cannot be taught through abstract theory alone. Law schools and training providers must adopt practice based pedagogy that mirrors real professional scenarios and by extension so must supervising solicitors and L&D functions.
CHARTERED ARTS SURVEYOR
• A. Case Based Learning: Students should work through realistic ethical dilemmas: AI hallucinating case law, Confidential data entered into public AI tools, AI generated drafting errors and client queries about AI use. • B. Verification Skills: Teaching students how to: Cross check AI outputs, identify hallucinations, validate citations and Assess reliability. • C. Governance Literacy: Future solicitors must understand: Data flows, Vendor due diligence, risk assessments and organisational oversight. • D. Ethical Reasoning: AI ethics is not about fear; it is about judgment. The profession should learn to apply the SRA Principles to new technologies with confidence. The consultation runs until 15 July 2026. We encourage all members, individuals and firms, to engage with it. 7. The Solicitor’s Role in an AI Enabled Profession AI does not diminish the solicitor’s role, it elevates it. In an AI rich environment, the solicitor’s value lies in Judgment, Interpretation, Client empathy, Strategic thinking and most importantly, Ethical leadership. AI can accelerate tasks, but only solicitors can ensure that legal services remain safe, ethical and aligned with the public interest.
Andrew Acquier FRICS FNAVA has been working as an independent valuer since 1982, specialising in fine art and antiques. Instructions for probate, divorce settlement, tax/asset and insurance valuations as well as expert witness work are regularly received from solicitors and other professionals. Andrew has many years experience of compiling reports for litigious cases, several of which have necessitated a subsequent court appearance as an expert witness to argue quantum. Divorce valuations are a speciality, usually as Single Joint Expert. Work is carried out throughout the UK and abroad.
23 York Street Broadstairs Kent CT10 1PB Tel: 0207 353 6440 Mobile: 07760 768 416 Email: andrew@andrewacquier.co.uk Website: www.andrewacquier.co.uk
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 25
ARTICLE
26 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
ARTICLE
From precedent libraries to prompts The next step for legal drafting
Almost every lawyer maintains a Precedent Library, collections
it for the correct reading order of John le Carré’s George Smiley
of letters, documents, and draft orders that serve as reliable
novels. The idea of drafting complex legal instructions for AI was
templates for routine legal tasks. Whether housed centrally
daunting; it seemed faster simply to type the letters myself. Yet the
within a firm or kept individually by lawyers, precedent banks
capability of AI systems to read and interpret case data changes
save time, promote consistency, and ensure that essential
that calculation. In theory, AI could identify pensions, values, dates,
information is communicated accurately. They prevent lawyers
or factual circumstances directly from the matter, eliminating the
from having to repeatedly craft the same content from scratch.
need for manual data entry. A precedent could therefore evolve into a prompt, an automated set of rules that instructs AI on how
Yet while precedents are widely used, most lawyers do not yet
to assemble the necessary document.
have something that may soon become equally indispensable: a bank of prompts for automated legal drafting. A prompt is a
Once created, a prompt could be reused just like a precedent. It
set of instructions given to artificial intelligence, essentially a
could tell the AI to consider the Pensions Advisory Group guidance,
command or description designed to generate a specific output
relevant Practice Directions, or even the terms of a specific court
such as a document, letter, or analysis. Writing a good prompt is
order. It could dictate formatting, tone, style, and legal framing.
much like instructing a trainee solicitor: the instructions must be
After the prompt runs within the secure environment of the case
clear, unambiguous, and thorough. The more detail the prompt
management system, the lawyer would receive a completed draft
contains, the higher the quality of the result. These prompts often
ready for review.
include instructions that might seem obvious, such as avoiding Americanised spellings, but are crucial for consistent outputs.
Another example is the preparation of briefs to counsel. Traditional precedents can pull basic information such as names,
My recent move from private practice to a role with LEAP, a legal
dates of birth, or case identifiers. But a prompt could go much
technology company specialising in case management software,
further. It could analyse the matter file, summarise the children’s
has given me a new perspective on both precedents and prompts.
arrangements, extract the current issues in dispute, and compile
As Head of Family Law, I now help shape the software to better
the factual background. This would not replace the lawyer’s
support family lawyers. Leaving practice meant leaving behind 18
judgement, but it would provide a first draft similar to the one a
years’ worth of carefully curated precedents; I was hardly going to
trainee might prepare on their first day, only produced in seconds
commit intellectual property theft to take them with me. Instead,
rather than an hour.
I now work closely with LEAP’s precedent libraries, which contain a wide range of template letters and documents designed to
Artificial Intelligence is already reshaping legal practice, whether
streamline legal workflows.
lawyers embrace it or not. The familiar saying captures the trend well: “AI won’t replace lawyers, but a lawyer using AI will.” Replacing
In exploring these templates, I have begun adapting and creating
or supplementing precedents with prompts is one way to harness
precedents that offer enhanced automation. One example is a
the benefits of AI while preserving the lawyer’s expertise, oversight,
letter of instruction to an actuary, which not only pulls through
and control. Just as precedents did not replace lawyers, prompts
key case details but also uses LEAP’s Word Add-in to offer dynamic
will not either. Instead, they represent a natural evolution in how
questions. The lawyer indicates, for instance, whether a report
we create, structure, and automate legal drafting in an increasingly
is ordered or agreed, and the remainder of the letter changes
digital profession.
automatically. This creates a more sophisticated tool than a static
Read our White Paper
template, one that reduces repetitive drafting and accelerates routine tasks. But this still raises an obvious question: what if technology could answer those questions itself by analysing information within the case file? This is where prompts rather than precedents begin to show their potential. When I joined LEAP, I had limited experience with AI prompting. My early use of ChatGPT had been purely personal, such as asking
Katie Phillips
Head of Family Law in LEAP Verticals
Visit leap.co.uk
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 27
ADVERTISING FEATURE
The Over-Compliance Problem in UK Law Firms Anti-money laundering compliance, in theory, is mandated and designed to help firms identify risk and to counteract legitimate concerns about criminals who may be hiding or moving illegally obtained money. Increasingly, in practice, those legal professionals working in compliance or who are obligated to perform compliance checks report that is becoming time- and resourceheavy and a major stress for the industry. That was the central concern raised at a recent Dye & Durham-Modern Law roundtable on AML in conveyancing, which brought together conveyancers, compliance leads and legal technology specialists from across the sector. Chaired by Founder and CEO of Teal Compliance Amy Bell, the discussion set out a problem that will be familiar to most firms handling residential property work: compliance processes that keep expanding, without a corresponding increase in confidence that they're actually catching the right things. The 3 Major Compliance Challenges Law Firms Face Dye & Durham partnered with Modern Law on this roundtable to capture the sentiment of diverse legal practitioners and the issues they face in relation to meeting compliance demands and regulation. Three distinct compliance challenges were identified by the 13 conveyancers, compliance leads, and technology specialists in discussion. The first was the sentiment that documentation has become a substitute for judgement rather than a way to understand one’s clients. Many of those in attendance report that they are collecting more evidence not because it clarifies risk, but because it's easier to defend a thick file than a thin one if a regulator asks questions later. In short, firms may be collecting documents in anticipation of a regulator review rather than to fully understand a client. The second was the increasing stress levels and toll this over-compliance was taking on staff with fee earners absorbing growing volumes of compliance work, much of it unbillable, on top of caseloads that were already stretched. As several participants reported, a culture of over-documenting has become the safer default, even when it adds nothing to the risk assessment itself, with newer lawyers in particular entering a profession where the fear of getting AML wrong shapes almost every decision. The final issue reported was the inefficiency of duplication of processes and document collection with clients routinely asked to provide the same identity and source of funds evidence to multiple firms during a single transaction. Advice on Compliance From Legal Practitioners What can conveyancing firms do to cut down on these concerns and the practice of over-compliance? In the roundtable discussion, several pragmatic fixes emerged that firms can act on now without waiting for further regulatory clarity. • Apply a proportionality test to every request. Before adding a document to a file, ask whether it changes the firm's understanding of the client's risk. If it doesn't, ask where it needs to be collected or whether it is being collected out of overcaution. • Set an internal and agreed bar for collection before any matter starts. Deciding in advance what "sufficient" looks like for each risk tier prevents requests escalating ad hoc once a file is already underway and a fee earner is under pressure to be seen as meeting (or exceeding) requirements.
28 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
• Redesign training around reasoning, not repetition. Annual, boxticking AML training was singled out in the roundtable as ineffective. Instead, shorter, scenario-based formats were favoured, on the basis that staff who understand why a check exists apply it more sensibly than staff who are simply following a script. • Review checklists on a fixed schedule. Requirements added in response to a specific past incident tend to outlive their relevance. A periodic review keeps checks tied to actual risk rather than accumulated caution. • Explain the reasoning to clients. When clients understand the purpose of a firm’s checks, they are much more likely to comply. Much of the friction clients raise (and frustration that might result) isn't about the existence of AML checks; it's about the lack of explanation for why the same information keeps being requested. Where Technology Can Help to Minimise Necessary Compliance Checks The consensus at the roundtable was that automation has moved from a niceto-have to close to a necessity, but only once a firm has already worked out what proportionate looks like. Applied on top of a checklist that already over-collects, any technology that is used will just result in a faster over-collection. In contrary, when used well, technology can effectively remove the parts of the process that add cost without adding insight. Dye & Durham's Unity® platform, for example, integrates biometric ID and liveness checks, Safe Harbour verification for vendors and purchasers, and source of funds checks through open banking, directly into the case file, so results return in real time and the audit trail builds itself as the matter progresses, rather than being reconstructed after the fact. Layer on PEPs and Sanctions checks and you can identify clients on sanctioned lists or as a politically exposed person immediately. That kind of integration addresses the duplication problem in a limited but meaningful way too: firms triggering checks from data they already hold spend less time re-requesting information the client has already provided elsewhere in the same transaction. What technology doesn't do, however, is replace the judgement that tells an experienced conveyancer when something isn’t quite lining up with a client. Honing those instincts and using checks to verify remains an important skillset for anyone in compliance. Final Takeaway For any professional fielding these checks day to day, the roundtable's conclusion will likely match your own experience: the volume of AML work has grown faster than anyone's confidence that it's catching the right things. The way to challenge that reality isn’t necessarily to collect more documentation; rather, it’s ensuring that the processes and technology you and your firm adopts matches the compliance need, in a way that makes both firms and regulators confident that a firm truly knows their client. This piece draws on discussion from the Modern Law roundtable series, hosted by Dye & Durham and chaired by Amy Bell. Read the full roundtable in Modern Law Issue 82. ■
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 29
ARTICLE
Solicitors’ Insurance Specialists Professional, Practical Insurance for Law Firms We specialise exclusively in insurance for solicitors and legal practices. Our focus is on protecting law firms against the risks that genuinely matter — regulatory, financial, operational, and reputational. Our Core Services Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI) Solicitors’ PI insurance for firms of all sizes Renewal management and market negotiation Mid-term insurer changes and distressed renewals Excess layer and top-up cover Claims support and insurer liaison
Scan the QR code to get in touch with your expert team today
All insurance and risk advice is undertaken by Konsileo (Trading) Limited (10100499), an independent insurance broker authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA register number is 748287. Registered office: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ. 30 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
www.konsileo.com
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Law Firm Insurance in 2026: Key Questions Answered The insurance landscape for law firms is shifting. While professional indemnity insurance (PII) remains a regulatory requirement, firms are facing a broader and more complex range of risks, from cyber threats to increased regulatory scrutiny. Here are the key questions firms should be asking in 2026. Has the PII market improved? 2026 continues to be a soft market with more new insurers coming aboard to help reduce premiums. This is a chance to choose a broker based on service rather than just price. Is your broker working with you as a business partner or a comparison website.. Why is renewal still so detailed? Because risk has evolved. Insurers now focus heavily on how firms operate, including file management, financial controls, and fraud prevention measures. With the rise in email compromise and fraudulent transactions, firms that can clearly demonstrate strong internal controls are in a far better position at renewal. Do we need cyber insurance if we have PII? Yes.
Are firms missing any key risks? Yes, client-related risks. Policies such as executor and inheritance insurance, and unoccupied property cover during probate, are becoming increasingly relevant. They protect clients from personal liability and disputes, while also reducing the firm’s exposure to potential claims. Despite this, they remain underutilised across the sector. How has risk changed for law firms? Significantly. Risk is no longer limited to legal advice. Operational and technological exposures, particularly cyber risk and financial crime, are now among the most material threats. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny has increased, placing greater emphasis on governance and internal controls.
Not only does PII have a full data breach exclusion. Business Interruption from a cyber incident is not covered on your office insurance. Cyber insurance is designed to fill that gap, covering incident response, data breaches, business interruption, and ransomware. Many policies also include preventative support, such as system monitoring and access to specialist response teams.
What are insurers looking for? Clarity and control.
For most firms, it is now a core cover rather than an optional extra.
What should firms be doing now? Start early and take a proactive approach.
What is management liability? Management liability protects partners, directors, and senior decision-makers.
Engage with your broker well ahead of renewal, review how your risk profile has evolved, and ensure your cover reflects how the firm actually operates. Looking beyond PII is key, cyber and management liability are now fundamental parts of a well-structured programme.
It covers exposures such as regulatory investigations, employment disputes, and allegations of mismanagement, areas that are becoming more common with increased oversight and a more litigious environment. For growing firms or those undergoing change, this is often overlooked but highly valuable protection.
Firms that understand their risk profile, maintain clear processes, and actively manage their procedures are viewed more favourably. It is no longer just about what work a firm does, but how well it is managed.
Final Thoughts PII remains central, but it is no longer enough on its own. Firms taking a broader, more strategic approach to insurance are better positioned to manage risk, protect their clients, and operate with confidence. ■
Alex Hill
Client Director I Konsileo
alex.hill@konsileo.com I 020 4604 2956
specialising in professional risks with a focus on law firms. Having previously worked as a Practice Manager within a solicitors’ firm, he brings first-hand experience of legal operations, compliance and risk management, supporting firms with both insurance placement and a practical, strategic approach to risk. Konsileo is a Chartered insurance broker operating a client-first, advisory-led model, supporting law firms across professional indemnity, cyber, management liability and wider business risks, as well as client-related protections, with access to a broad insurer panel and specialist markets.
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 31
ADVERTISING FEATURE
The Firm That Built for the Future and Arrived There Early When Adam Creasey and Benedict Cressey founded Adam Benedict in 2023, they set out to challenge how law has traditionally been practised. Adam is a solicitor; Benedict brings a non-legal perspective to the firm's leadership. They wanted diverse perspectives at the leadership level and structured the firm as an Alternative Business Structure to make that possible.
T
heir founding principle was simple: put clients first in every decision, from pricing to process. That meant moving away from the billable hour towards fixed fees, value-based pricing, subscriptions, and fee caps. “I have seen things from both sides, but ultimately the legal profession needs to catch up with the modern world in terms of service delivery and how we prioritise working with clients rather than against them,” Adam says. “That’s not just about fee structures, it’s about our entire operation.” Technology was central to that investment before the firm had taken on a single client. After reading Clio co-founder Jack Newton’s book, The Client-Centred Law Firm, Adam saw a clear fit. “Having read Jack’s work, I knew that Clio was going to be aligned with us, both in terms of values and service offering.” Clio became the firm’s core platform from day one. From faster turnaround to more client trust For a firm built around delivering more for clients, pace matters as much as quality. In a recent M&A transaction, the firm on the other side had 35 specialist lawyers and took three weeks to turn around a share purchase agreement. Adam Benedict returned a redlined document in 48 hours using Clio Work. “All the parties want this transaction,” Adam says. “What they don’t want is for creaky old law firms to hold it up.” In another example, a client came to them after a diff erent firm had held the case for nine months without any meaningful progress. Adam made a promise: attend a Friday afternoon meeting, and by the end of it, the client would have a full legal strategy, an evidence gap analysis, a litigation budget, and a detailed assessment of the other side’s likely litigation strategy. Working with his colleague and using Clio Work, the team delivered all four within 24 hours. The intermediary on the call was so impressed that he later referred a multi-million-pound litigation matter originally intended for another firm. “We’re able to help more and more people with the same headcount, the same capacity.” Three years in, and already making history Adam Benedict has grown from a two-person startup to a team of ten. Turnover has increased by more than 200%, as has its client base. “We almost tripled revenue from year one to year two through client loyalty and some fantastic cases that we have managed to bring on board, punching way above our weight.” By the end of 2026/2027, the firm expects to significantly increase revenue without adding another lawyer. Its reputation has grown too. Adam Benedict was named one of The Times Best Law Firms 2025, ranked among the UK’s top construction 32 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
law firms, and won the 2025 Reisman Award for Best New Law Firm. Most notably, the firm has already made legal history three times, helping create new UK law in the construction sector. They were working on a construction case at the time that produced the first finding of relevant liability under section 130 of the Building Safety Act, the first Building Liability Order and the first information order under the Act—all in a single matter. “That’s historically important because the Building Safety Act is the post-Grenfell legislation,” Adam explains. The decision shows how the Act can be used to prevent construction companies from avoiding liability for unsafe work through corporate restructuring or the winding up of subsidiaries. “It’s probably the most important development in the construction industry in the last 100 years or so, and to be the first to have gotten that is a real achievement.” The model and where it goes next From the start, Adam and Benedict knew a client-centred firm needed strong operations behind it. If tasks like admin, communication, and billing can slow their firm down, everything else suff ers. “We’re a small team. There are always going to be bumps in the road and imperfections, but we’re constantly looking at trying to make it better,” Adam says. “That’s with the help of having a piece of software from people who really understand the problem that we’re trying to solve. It’s been incredibly important.” The team can take on more complex work, move faster, and give clients the kind of visibility and transparency that even larger firms struggle to deliver consistently. Having Clio at the centre of the practice makes that possible at scale. Adam Benedict can automate workflows, streamline billing, and give clients direct access to their case updates and documents through Clio’s client portal. “I love the fact that clients get an app on their phone,” Adam says, “a one-stop shop for their legal needs.” It also supports the firm’s approach to pricing. Moving away from unpredictable hourly rates means clients know what they’re paying before work begins. The firm’s systems make that model practical. Benedict sums up the long-term approach: “Things change all the time, but the key for us is to maintain regular contact with our clients, nurture good relationships, and take on board what they say. Then it’s down to us, as their lawyers, to look further ahead, so it benefits them in the future.” In only three years, Adam Benedict has grown fast, made history, and built something that looks nothing like the profession it set out to challenge. ■
BOOK REVIEW
MIGRANT SUPPORT HANDBOOK
TRIBUNAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
LEGAL ACTION GROUP The access to justice charity
LEGAL ACTION GROUP
By Shu Shin Luh and Connor Johnston
By Edward Jacobs
AN INDISPENSABLE HANDBOOK FOR SPECIALISTS IN IMMIGRATION LAW, YET ACCESSIBLE TO ALL INTERESTED READERS
A COMPREHENSIVE HANDBOOK BY EDWARD JACOBS FOR PRACTITIONERS IN TRIBUNALS
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
I
s there a new law text out there that is more topical than this? Not to mention more vital than this? Probably not -- although many may well argue the point. It is indisputable, however, that mass migration, whether legal or illegal, has become an international problem, particularly for the UK -- and in the view of many -- it is a problem that is well-nigh insoluble.
It is fair to say, however, that immigration lawyers in particular -- as well as anyone involved in, or committed to, achieving viable solutions to the problems inherent in migrant support -- will welcome the publication of this book by the Legal Action Group. Authors Shu Shin Luh and Connor Johnston have noted that the book (conceived some six years ago) was painstakingly researched and written to ‘replace the irreplaceable’ “Support For Asylum-Seekers” by Sue Willman and Steve Knaffer QC, published by LAG in 2009. It is sobering to recall how much and how quickly and relentlessly the world has changed since then -- making the problem of asylum seekers ever more acute. The publication of this book is therefore all the timelier. And certainly, the almost insoluble complexity of its subject matter is reflected in its more than 1,200 pages of scholarly and thorough research presented (in the tradition of the LAG) in a clear, accessible style; accessible, that is, not only to lawyers, but to anyone interested in, or involved with, this detailed and certainly controversial and difficult subject, which has occasioned so much debate. With its focus on the welfare and legal rights of migrants, the book provides in-depth coverage of, for example, housing and welfare, benefits, NHS access and provision and social services, as well as support for failed asylum seekers with reference to special cases; notably unaccompanied children and -- most heart-rending of all -- the victims of human trafficking. This is a handbook you could almost call encyclopedic. Certainly, it offers specialists in this wide-ranging and many-faceted and complex area of law, a gateway to further research. Note that the first 150 or so pages contain tables of cases... statutes... statutory instruments... immigration rules... and a table of European and international legislation. Also, for the volume of its size, it is remarkably easy to navigate, containing copious footnotes, a detailed table of contents and an even more minutely detailed index of at least 115 pages. A handy handbook? Absolutely. As immigration -- both legal and illegal -will undoubtedly emerge as a prime issue during elections and beyond, this scholarly yet eminently readable volume will prove indispensable, not only to practitioners, but to anyone interested in the wide-ranging issues inherent in this undeniably difficult area of law. ■
Tribunals under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
N
ow in a sixth edition for 2024, Edward Jacobs’ celebrated book on Tribunals remains a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the integrated tribunal system created over ten years ago by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
What the reader gets is a structured approach to the practice and procedure of tribunals, setting out what the rules of procedure are in their context and offering a framework for understanding and analysing the practices that apply to them. The tribunal system has at this time in 2020s, attained a steadfast state though the matters over which it has jurisdiction continue to expand. This is especially important in the General Regulatory Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal and the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal. The judicial review work of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the Upper Tribunal has now established its position in place of the Administrative Court for that jurisdiction at a very testing time politically. As well as dealing with the rules of procedure, this book contains practical advice for tribunal members and those who appear before them. For parties and their representatives, it deals with obtaining and assessing evidence, writing decisions, applying for adjournments, techniques of questioning and tribunal advocacy. The sixth edition covers the following main areas depending on what you are looking for: the proposed change in status of Senior President of Tribunals as part of the “One Judiciary” reforms; devolved tribunals in Scotland; anticipated changes to devolved tribunals in Wales; abolition of Cart judicial reviews; updated reported case law of Upper Tribunal and the senior courts since 2019, including important decisions on the nature of an appeal; amendments to TCEA and the rules of procedure; and extended coverage of rules on anonymity, confidentiality and disclosure. The book remains essential reading for tribunal judges and panel members, representatives and anyone who appears before the tribunal or is interested in how they work. The Legal Action Group (LAG), continue to publish the book. LAG is the access to justice charity who are justly famed for producing legal texts accessible not only to lawyers, but to the average, concerned reader, and they are famed for the support they give us as practitioners today. This work has been described is “the one book that every tribunal judge, member, adviser and representative should have at their fingertips”. Very true as it offers great advice and support for established and new practitioners. It remains unique for the depth of its coverage, and it guides us well with Jacobs’ considerable skill, experience and dedication of the subject matter setting out, as he does, the hugely important range of work undertaken by the modern tribunal system. Thank you LAG for continuing to publish this work.■
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 33
BOOK REVIEW
DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING LAW LEGAL ACTION GROUP The access to justice charity
By David Renton ESSENTIAL READING FOR HOUSING PRACTITIONERS ACTING FOR CLIENTS FACED WITH REPOSSESSION An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
T
here is very little that strikes more terror in the souls of its victims than the threat of impending homelessness via the judicial processes involved, which culminate in the process of eviction.
There ought to be an erudite and readable le book about it — and there is, thanks to this very useful publication from the Legal Action Group (LAG), the access to justice charity, who are justly famed for producing legal texts accessible not only to lawyers, but to the average concerned reader. David Renton, the author, is a barrister who represents tenants and mortgage holders embroiled in possession hearings. Published in handy paperback format, the book offers a broad and concise coverage of ‘the use of the principles of equality in housing law’ — and equally of prime importance — the duty of landlords to fulfil their duties under the general categories of fitness and repossession.
As the publishers point out, the book covers the often complex and controversial matters, for example, of council houses let by housing associations, as well as houses held in thrall either to mortgages, or long leases. It should be added that homeowners in mortgage arrears suffer the same anxieties as those who rent — hence the general and urgent need for all practitioners to be duly bound in support of clients who struggle with these and other difficulties in the housing sector. Practitioners and clients alike coming to grips with these problems will find this book especially helpful. As a concise work of reference, it truly excels. The precise introduction points directly to the subject of the book, namely the Equality Act of 2010 and its related principles — which apply both to business premises and residential properties. Straightforward to navigate, the book has a detailed table of contents, enabling the reader — lawyer of not — to find the necessary advice they may be looking for, and for those doing further research, the book contains extensive footnotes, plus a detailed and useful index at the back. Note too, the particular advantage of a 30-page section of precedents — including for example, the precedent entitled ‘Case Summary Application to Set Aside Possession Order.’ Also included in this concise text are Tables of Statutes, Statutory Instruments and also a Table of European and International Legislation. For practitioners and clients alike, this book emerges as a practical and indispensable purchase.■
We promise to never put down a healthy dog
Will you help your clients include a gift in their Will, ensuring dogs a lifetime of love and care? A gift to Dogs Trust can help take care of around 14,000 dogs in one of our 22 rehoming centres, located across the UK. Gifts in Wills fund 40% of our vital work, and with the help of solicitors like you, we can continue to give abandoned dogs the happy and healthy life they deserve. For more information visit our website at: dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/wills-legacies T: 020 7837 0006 dogstrust.org.uk
dog is for life®
Service only available for residents of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. Registered Charity Numbers 1167663 & SC053144. Co. Ltd 09365971. © Dogs Trust 2026
34 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 35
XXXXXXXXXXXX
36 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER