LegalEdCon 2021 takes place virtually on the morning of Wednesday 19 May and the afternoon of Thursday 20 May. The Conference is headline sponsored by BPP University, BARBRI and The University of Law, with The College of Legal Practice, LexisNexis and Nottingham Law School as silver sponsors, and LawCare the charity partner. It is attended every year by over 60 leading law firms learning & development and graduate recruitment teams, as well as academics from universities across the UK.
Speakers
Peter Arnold
Early Talent Development Manager at CMS
Julie Brannan
Director of Education and Training at the SRA
Thom Brooks
Dean of Durham University Law School
Rebecca Chui
Associate at Osborne Clarke and former coder at Microsoft
Susan Cooper
Founder and CEO of Accutrainee
Victoria Cromwell
Director of UK Programmes at BARBRI
Christopher Dede
Timothy E. Wirth Professor in learning technologies, technology, innovation, and education programme at Harvard University
Professor Andrew Francis
Head of Manchester Law School at Manchester Metropolitan University
Bill Henderson
Co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Law Practice
Jonny Hurst
Head of Outreach and Student Recruitment at BPP
Jane Jarman
Professor of law at Nottingham Law School
Patrick Johnson
Director of Equality and Inclusion at The University of Law
Dan Kayne
General Counsel (regions) at Network Rail and founder of The O Shaped Lawyer programme
Maria Kell
Professional Support Lawyer at the BBC
Ishan Kolhatkar
Member of Bridging the Bar and former barrister
Katrina Mather
Barrister at Hardwicke
Bhavisha Mistry
General Counsel at Mawdsleys
Chris Nichols
Director of policy and regulation at the Legal Services Board
Christopher O'Connor
Head of Segment Marketing at LexisNexis
Giles Proctor
CEO of The College of Legal Practice
Elizabeth Rimmer
CEO of Lawcare
Julia Robinson
Senior manager for professional development and training at Ropes & Gray and member of the City of London Law Society's training committee
Alex Smith
Partner & Managing Director of Shakespeare Martineau
Joanne Wicks QC
Vice-Chair of the Bar Council Education and Training Committee
Sponsors
Headline sponsors
Silver sponsors
Additional sponsor
Schedule
DAY 1
WEDS 19 MAY: 9:00-12:30
9:00-9:05
Introduction
9:05-10:00
Beyond the SQE: Developing the next generation of lawyers
How societal shifts around hybrid working and diversity & inclusion, as well as rapid developments in commerce & technology, will shape legal training during the 2020s
Speakers
• Peter Arnold, Early Talent Development Manager at CMS
• Morette Jackson, Director of Business Development at The University of Law
• Patrick Johnson, Director of Equality and Inclusion at The University of Law
• Maria Kell, Professional Support Lawyer at the BBC
10:00-10:20
Virtual networking
10:20-11:15
What education and training do the lawyers of the future want?
Trainees-to-be have their say
Speakers
• Jonny Hurst, Head of Outreach and Student Recruitment at BPP
• Future trainees at several leading law firms
Further speakers for this session will be announced ahead of the Conference
11:15-11:30
Virtual networking
11:30-12:25
The general counsel perspective
In-house lawyers give their views
Speakers
• Susan Cooper, Founder and CEO of Accutrainee
• Dan Kayne, Founder of The O Shaped Lawyer
• Bhavisha Mistry, General Counsel at Mawdsleys
• Giles Proctor, CEO of The College of Legal Practice
12:25-12:30
Day 1 closing comments
16:00-17:00
The future of bar training after the pandemic
Afternoon barrister session
Speakers
• Sarah Corbett, Associate Dean at The University of Law, Bloomsbury and criminal defence barrister at 1 Pump Court
• Mark Keith, Head of Development at BPP
• Ishan Kolhatkar, member of Bridging the Bar
• Katrina Mather, barrister at Hardwicke
• Joanne Wicks QC, Vice-Chair of the Bar Council Education and Training Committee
Further speakers for this session will be announced ahead of the Conference
17:00-17:30
Virtual networking
DAY 2
THURS 20 MAY: 13:55-17:30
13:55-14:00
Day 2 welcome and introduction
14:00-14:50
What does the introduction of Qualifying Work Experience mean for law firms and legal service providers?
The radical new QWE regime explored
Speakers
• Jane Ching, Professor at Nottingham Law School
• Andrew Francis, Head of Manchester Law School at Manchester Metropolitan University
• Jane Jarman, Professor at Nottingham Law School
• Julia Robinson, City of London Law Society training committee member and Senior Manager, professional development and training at Ropes & Gray
• Alex Smith, Partner and Managing Director at Shakespeare Martineau
With further contributions from Julie Brannan, Director of Education and Training at the Solicitors RegulationAuthority
14:50-15:05
Virtual networking
15:05-15:55
How law courses are proving their value
The LLBs giving students an edge at a time of change
Speakers
• Thom Brooks, Dean of Durham University Law School
• Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare
• Christopher O'Connor, Head of Segment Marketing at LexisNexis
• Matthew Tomlinson, Dean at The University of Law Leeds and Sheffield campuses
Further speakers for this session will be announced ahead of the Conference
15:55-16:05
Virtual networking
16:05-17:00
Agile working and L&D: Insights from other industries
What law firms can learn from big tech and other progressive sectors
Speakers
• Rebecca Chui, Associate at Osborne Clarke and former coder at Microsoft
• Victoria Cromwell, Director of UK programmes at BARBRI
• Christopher Dede, Professor in learning technologies at Harvard University
• Bill Henderson, Co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Law Practice
17:00-17:30
Closing keynote and Q&A
Speakers
• Julie Brannan, Director of Education and Training at the Solicitors Regulation Authority
• Chris Nichols, Director of Policy and Regulation at the Legal Services Board
About the sponsors
BPP University
We build and shape legal careers. With over 25 years’ experience in delivering professional legal qualifications, we are proud to be one of the UK’s leading law schools. At the forefront of innovation in legal training, we are trusted by some of the most influential law firms, with 60 leading firms training with us exclusively. Our courses focus on employability, giving our students the edge to secure a training contract or pupillage. Preparing them to embrace the demands of practice from day one.
BARBRI
BARBRI has over 50 years’ proven expertise in preparing aspiring lawyers to succeed in their professional exams. The SQE assessment requires a breadth of knowledge in one multiple-choice exam not previously experienced in the law degree, GDL or LPC. Only BARBRI has the experience to prepare graduates to succeed in this style of assessment. BARBRI supports law firms, universities and graduates by investing in a new pathway to qualification and creating a generation of innovative, adaptable and diverse lawyers.
The University of Law
The University of Law (ULaw) is one of the UK's longest-established specialist providers of legal education, with a rich heritage and reputation for innovation. ULaw boasts over 250 tutors who are qualified lawyers and bring their extensive practical experience to the classroom, as well as a track record in impressive employment and pupillage rates.
The College of Legal Practice
The College of Law is an educational charity and is the largest provider of practice-focused legal education in Australasia. The College of Legal Practice in the UK was established in April 2019 by The College of Law with Dr. Giles Proctor as CEO. The College of Legal Practice’s expertise in online, modular, practice based legal training is perfectly placed to deliver legal training urgently needed as a result of the radical changes with the launch of the SQE to replace the GDL and LPC. Our mission in the UK is the same as for Australasia - to enhance the careers of legal professionals through the delivery of innovative, practice-focused legal education and training. The College of Legal Practice is building on the work established by The College of Law Australia over 45 years with leading law firms in the UK.
LexisNexis
LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world.
We help lawyers win cases, manage their work more efficiently, serve their clients better and grow their practices. We assist corporations in better understanding their markets, monitoring their brands and competition, and in mitigating business risk. We collaborate with universities to educate students, and we support nation-building with governments and courts by making laws accessible and strengthening legal infrastructures. We partner with leading global associations and customers to collect evidence against war criminals and provide tools to combat human trafficking. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 130 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide, is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.
Nottingham Law School
Nottingham Law School is one of the leading providers of academic and professional legal education in the country with an established national and international reputation for excellence in legal education, and a record of delivering innovative and transformational courses. We are one of the largest law schools in the UK, offering a range of undergraduate degrees, academic and practitioner taught postgraduate courses. With our established research centres, close links with the legal sector, and a multi-award-winning teaching law firm, Nottingham Law School is at the forefront of modern legal education.
LawCare
LawCare is an independent charity offering emotional support, information and training to the legal community in the UK and Ireland. We work to promote good mental health and wellbeing in legal workplaces and drive change in education, training and practice. Our support service offers a safe place to talk without judgment. We’re here to help, with helpline calls, emails and webchats answered in confidence by trained staff and volunteers who have first-hand experience of working in the law. We also have a network of peer supporters.