The London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) has launched two major initiatives aimed at improving diversity, inclusion and professional development.
The first initiative – the LSLA Judicial Shadow Scheme – will allow members of the association to spend a day observing proceedings from the bench and engaging with judges during breaks, with four places per term being offered from early 2026.
Second, the LSLA is launching a new mentoring scheme that will pair members across firms and career stages to provide guidance and broaden perspectives.
The initiatives were announced by LSLA president Nikki Edwards, of Howard Kennedy, at the association’s annual dinner on 27 November.
While there are existing schemes promoting work as a judicial assistant alongside the senior judiciary, including the Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court, those salaried posts require law firms to second trainees and associates for up to 12 months, making it a significant investment.
The LSLA scheme, by contrast, works around work commitments and responsibilities and mirrors existing relationships through the Commercial Bar Association for pupil barristers.
Edwards credited Commercial Court head Mr Justice Henshaw for leading the Judicial Shadow Scheme and Mr Justice Waksman for encouraging its creation. She also thanked Young LSLA members Avneet Baryan, Tim Sales and Joseph Tendler for their work bringing the mentoring scheme to life, for which sign-up details will be shared in January.
Edwards, only the second female president in the LSLA’s 73-year history, stressed the need for an organisation that “truly represents the broad range of individuals and organisations that make up our profession”.
She added that she was keen to ensure that the LSLA’s 3,500 members, including more than 50 corporate members, a growing contingent of in-house members and its committee, were “diverse and representative of those who litigate in London”.
During the year, the LSLA has “made its voice heard on topics of wider importance to the profession and members, such as mental and physical wellbeing, the gender gap, social mobility, identity, LGBT+ issues and the challenges that junior lawyers face”, she said.
Drawing on her own experience from a low socio-economic background, she said: “The benefit of my lived experience… has emphasised the value of mentorship and equal opportunity.”
With many judges in attendance, ranging from former UK Supreme Court president Baroness Hale and former LSLA president Master Kaye, Edwards stressed the importance of judicial engagement to litigators.
The LSLA, she said, had been invited to provide bespoke training sessions to the judiciary on evolving areas of practice, alongside delivering sessions on artificial intelligence and litigation funding.
She added that the LSLA’s annual member survey would also capture views on issues such as AI, wellness and diversity. For every response, LSLA will donate £10 to Big Voice London, a charity promoting social mobility in law.
Edwards closed by inviting members to participate, as she steps down from the role in April: “We are always looking for energetic individuals who can bring different perspectives to help with our work.”
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