Join our committees

The role

We represent and support junior lawyers at the start of their careers, helping them develop and progress in the profession.

Find out more about the Junior Solicitors Network

Committee members:

• share their insights on key issues affecting junior and aspiring solicitors
• help us keep members up to date with recent developments
• take part in virtual working and task groups for various projects
• support on planning conferences, digital content and events

As part of the JSN committee, you will automatically sit on the National Junior Lawyers Division (NJLD) executive committee.

The NJLD is independent from the Law Society and focuses on policy consultation and campaigning work.

What's in it for you?

As a committee member, you will have the opportunity to:

• influence, inform and shape the Law Society's support to junior and aspiring solicitors
• showcase your expertise and raise your profile with our 200,000 members
• build your skills and expand your professional network and connections
• work closely with knowledgeable and enthusiastic peers and staff on a variety of interesting projects

What we're looking for

We'd like to hear from junior and aspiring solicitors from across England and Wales.

We are interested in diverse and well-rounded committee members who have:

• sound knowledge and understanding of the key issues and challenges facing junior solicitors
• the experience and personal drive to deliver support and offer innovative ideas
• commitment to serving the legal community

A big part of the committee members' contribution is to help us design, deliver and disseminate content such as events, so you should be prepared to:

• speak, chair and present to large audiences of peers and clients
• make use of your network of contacts
• contribute to written articles

Due to current gaps on the committee, we're keen to hear from professionals:

• based in the North West of England, East of England, Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire or Greater London
• three to five years' post-qualification experience (PQE)
• newly qualified (NQ) to one-year PQE
• aspiring solicitors such as trainee solicitor or solicitor apprentices
• those working in-house (in an organisation)

Time commitment

We estimate the average time commitment to be half an hour a week, spread out across the year. This includes:

• quarterly JSN committee meeting (two fully online, with up to two hybrid meetings taking place in person in London and online)
• working groups or projects
• three NJLD meetings (two fully online, with one hybrid meeting taking place in London and online)

All committee meetings take place at the weekend.

NJLD meetings are coordinated to take place on or around the same date as JSN committee meetings.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to our expenses policy.

Term length

Appointments start on 1 November 2024 for a one-year term.

How to apply

To apply, email juniorlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk with:

• your CV
• a statement of up to 500 words outlining how you can contribute to developing engagement with junior and aspiring solicitors, including practical examples

The deadline is midnight on Sunday 6 October 2024.

Appointments will be made on merit following an open and transparent process.

Next steps

A selection panel will consider the applications, and we'll contact shortlisted candidates.

Interviews are likely to take place between Monday 28 October and Monday 4 November 2024.

New committee members must be able to attend an in-person induction meeting on Friday 15 November with staff and existing committee members, followed by a dinner at 113 Chancery Lane, London.

The first committee meeting is taking place in person on Saturday 16 November.

General information

Our policy advisory committees are specialist sub-committees of the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee (PRAC).

Read the committee member role description and terms of reference

Committee membership is a voluntary position. You will be reimbursed reasonable expenses for attending committee meetings in line with our policies on expenses.

Committee members are expected to adhere at all times to our:

• Principles of Conduct for elected and appointed members when discharging their committee role, and
• Culture Code in their dealings with each other and with Law Society staff

By applying for a committee role, you confirm you have read both the principles and the code and that you agree to comply with them if you are appointed.

Committee members’ names will appear on our website in connection with membership of the committee.

Matters to be disclosed by candidates

You must disclose details of the following matters in accordance with the decision of the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee (formerly Legal Affairs and Policy Board).

Adverse findings by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Any findings or order of the tribunal which led to you being:

• struck from the roll of solicitors, but only if your subsequent restoration to the roll took place within the 10 years immediately preceding the last date for receiving nominations (the date shown at the head of the form)
• suspended from practice, either indefinitely or for a specified period, but only if the suspension ceased within the 10 years immediately preceding the last date for receiving nominations
• ordered to make payment of a financial penalty, but only if the order was made within the 10 years immediately preceding the last date for receiving nominations
• excluded from legal aid work, either indefinitely or for a specified period, but only if the order was made within the 10 years immediately preceding the last date for receiving nominations, or
• prohibited from being restored to the roll of solicitors without the leave of the tribunal but only if your subsequent restoration to the roll of solicitors took place within the 10 years immediately preceding the last date for nominations

Current or pending regulatory proceedings

Any regulatory proceedings currently taking place against you, or where notice has been given to you that such proceedings are to be taken, before:

• the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
• the Solicitors Regulation Authority, or
• any other regulatory body to which you are subject, and which exercises statutory powers

A condition on your current practising certificate relating to practising only in approved employment

Criminal convictions

Any criminal conviction before a court in the United Kingdom (UK), Isle of Man or Channel islands, other than a conviction:

• which does not, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, need to be disclosed
• where an absolute or conditional discharge was imposed, or
• which was in respect of a motoring offence, other than one where a sentence of disqualification from driving for more than 12 months was imposed

Current or pending criminal proceedings

Any current criminal proceedings, or proceedings which have been formally commenced (by issue of a summons or other equivalent step) but which have not yet begun to be heard, in any court in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.

Current criminal investigations

Any current criminal investigation of which the candidate is, or might reasonably be taken to be, aware, which relates wholly or partly to the candidate, carried out by any police force in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands or by the National Crime Agency (NCA), previously known as the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).

If you have any questions about how to respond to the declarations in Part 1 or wish to provide any supplementary information, complete the form at appendix 1.

Conflict of interest

You should draw to our attention any potential conflicts with the Law Society's commercial or lobbying interests which could lead you to be influenced, or to be reasonably seen to be influenced, by the possibility of significant personal gain (or loss) of a financial or non-financial nature.

Such conflicts might arise from:

• posts held in the course of employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships
• any contract for goods, services or works between the Law Society and you or any firm or organisation in which you are a partner, director or employee
• any office held in a public or professional body (other than the Law Society or where the appointment is by the Law Society)
• any position in an organisation which might be affected by commercial decisions taken by the Law Society. This includes organisations which provide services which we provide to our members, including publishing, educational courses, training or other commercial activities; and organisations which provide advice or other services in competition with solicitors
• membership of a body whose principal purposes include influencing public opinion or policy in areas relevant to our work
• any significant financial interest relevant to our work
• the interests of a relative or related party, where:
  • you are aware of the interest, and
  • a fair-minded observer might reasonably perceive a conflict of interest

Ordinary professional activities such as attending courses with an education provider other than the Law Society or membership of an accreditation scheme do not create a conflict.

SRA posts

You should draw to our attention if you hold any role with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), including paid, elected and/or volunteer positions, and any role performed for the SRA in an advisory capacity.

If you do, we may need to request further information from you on the nature of the post so we can assess our obligations under the Legal Services Board's Internal Governance Rules 2019.

 

If you have any questions about the content of these notes, email pracappointments@lawsociety.org.uk.