Bicentenary bites: what’s got everyone talking

From the newly qualified to senior leaders, and from sole practitioners to others in private practice or working in-house, here are four hot topics that sparked conversation at our events in Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here – but are we ready?

The two letters on everyone’s lips are AI.

Solicitors have highlighted the need for updated guidance from the SRA, pointing to the risks of being early adopters without regulatory clarity.

Real-world stories – like ChatGPT generating false cases – remind us what’s at stake.

In-house solicitors in the tech sector are often ahead of the curve, while savvy junior solicitors increasingly want to work at firms that embrace technology and innovation. It’s now a major factor in recruitment.

More and more clients expect the same speed and convenience from legal services as they get in other parts of daily life.

AI may have a larger role to play in how the profession meets those expectations.

What’s clear is that this is a defining issue for solicitors – one the Law Society will prioritise through a new strategic mission focused on technology, legal practice and consumer experience.

What if sharing didn’t mean losing your edge?

Our members recognise that the profession’s competitiveness can get in the way of collaboration, with some firms admitting to playing coy in the race to attract talent.

But there is a strong case for sharing best practice – not to give away the competitive edge, but to strengthen the entire profession, particularly in areas like compliance, tech innovation and workplace culture.

Smaller firms and in-house solicitors would also benefit from a more open exchange of tools and ideas.

The Law Society is already creating space for honest, practical conversations across the profession, and we will continue to lead the way in this.

Where to next for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Whilst many are positive about how far the profession has come, improving retention, progression and workplace culture remain key challenges.

There’s a growing sense that EDI initiatives risk becoming tokenistic or superficial – and that more focus is needed on the barriers solicitors face at every stage of their careers, not just at the point of entry.

Alongside existing pay gap reporting, more detailed workforce data and increased awareness and accountability at senior levels are seen as critical for embedding what works and driving lasting change.

By working with the profession to go further, the Law Society is determined to ensure we’re not having the same conversations in another 200 years.

Our new EDI strategy, set to be introduced later this year, will support that commitment.

Ethics under pressure

For in-house solicitors, advising someone who also pays your salary presents a unique ethical challenge.

Often the only legal voice in a business, they must carefully balance their independence with commercial pressures.

The distinction between adviser and decision-maker is critical – and not always clear.

The Law Society will soon publish the first iteration of a framework to help in-house solicitors navigate their responsibilities with greater clarity and confidence – continuing our tradition as a trusted voice on professional ethics.

We’ll be inviting feedback from our members to help us develop it further.