Surrey Junior Lawyers Division

Surrey Junior Lawyers Division

Your Junior Lawyers Division Needs You!

Are you an enthusiastic junior lawyer in Surrey? If so, the Surrey Junior Lawyers Division (SJLD) invites you to nominate yourself in its upcoming election! Eligible candidates include those with 0-5 years PQE as Solicitors or Barristers, Pupil Barristers, Trainee Solicitors, junior In-House lawyers, CILEX members or trainees, paralegals, legal assistants, and University students.

We’ve got a number of roles up for grabs this year, including:

• Vice Chair

• Sponsorship Representative

• National JLD Representative

• Surrey Law Society Representatives

• Secretary

• Digital Marketing Representative

• Charity Representative

• Events Representative (x 2)

• Diversity & Inclusion Representative

• Universities & Colleges Representative

To nominate yourself for one of these roles, simply email sjldelection@gmail.com by 17:00 on Friday, 8 August 2025. In your application, specify the position(s) you wish to apply for and explain why you are the ideal candidate for both the SJLD committee and the specific role(s). There is no word limit, so feel free to elaborate on your relevant experience and ideas. If you really want to stand out, it is best to highlight what you would contribute to the committee and propose initiatives you plan to implement.

Why Apply? 

The SJLD is one of the most dynamic and active local junior lawyer divisions in England and Wales (and possibly the world?), offering a fantastic platform for committed, hardworking, and enthusiastic junior lawyers eager to engage and boost their Surrey legal community. Joining the SJLD Committee not only enhances your professional profile but also offers the chance to build lasting relationships that could lead to future opportunities and referrals for your team (big partner brownie points!)

What time commitment is involved?

The time commitment varies by role and your availability, ranging from 3-5 hours a month to 3-5 hours a week during the busiest periods. We are a supportive committee and recognise that your fee-earning responsibilities come first (those bills ain’t gonna pay themselves) but we do hold monthly committee meetings on Microsoft Teams on the first Tuesday of each month from 19:00 to 20:00 which you’ll need to join as this is where we discuss initiatives and plan upcoming projects.

What’s Then? 

The SJLD committee will review all nominations anonymously and hold elections on Tuesday, 12 August 2025. You will be informed of the outcome of your application following the election. Successful candidates will participate in handovers by 30 August 2025, with the new term commencing on 1 September 2025.

If you have any questions about joining the SJLD committee, please contact us at surreyjuniorlawyersdivision@gmail.com

In case you missed it…

Although this SJLD term is nearing its end, our activities and events continue. We've hosted mentoring sessions, school talks, initiatives, and networking events. In May, we took over Pews Bar & Courtyard in Guildford, thanks to sponsorship from Chadwick Nott. Our members enjoyed networking, a platter from Meat the Greek, and drinks in the sun. Thank you to our Events Representative Kali Phelan for organising such a successful event and to Will and Liam at Chadwick Nott for your sponsorship! 

In June, we attended Guildford County School to provide a panel talk on “Getting into a Career in Law”. The Q&A session was a success with a high turnout and good engagement from the students. Thank you to the SJLD’s Akarsshaa Bhargavaa, Joanna Earl and Linda Asare for your help in arranging this event.

July saw another successful Guildford Legal Walk with judges, law firms, barristers chambers, advice agencies, in house legal departments, and university law groups all undertake the annual trek raising money for local legal advice charities, all supported by the London Legal Support Trust. 

As always, there’s more to come so keep an eye out for our next event which is never far away but if you find yourself asking “What do I do in the meantime?” – well, write your application to join the committee, of course!  

By Alex Watson-Lee,

Chair, Surrey Junior Lawyers Division