Skip to content
Law Society of Scotland
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
  • For members

    • For members

    • CPD & Training

    • Membership and fees

    • Rules and guidance

    • Regulation and compliance

    • Journal

    • Business support

    • Career growth

    • Member benefits

    • Professional support

    • Lawscot Wellbeing

    • Lawscot Sustainability

  • News and events

    • News and events

    • Law Society news

    • Blogs & opinions

    • CPD & Training

    • Events

  • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying as a Scottish solicitor

    • Career support and advice

    • Our work with schools

    • Lawscot Foundation

    • Funding your education

    • Social mobility

  • Research and policy

    • Research and policy

    • Research

    • Influencing the law and policy

    • Equality and diversity

    • Our international work

    • Legal Services Review

    • Meet the Policy team

  • For the public

    • For the public

    • What solicitors can do for you

    • Making a complaint

    • Client protection

    • Find a Solicitor

    • Frequently asked questions

    • Your Scottish solicitor

  • About us

    • About us

    • Contact us

    • Who we are

    • Our strategy, reports and plans

    • Help and advice

    • Our standards

    • Work with us

    • Our logo and branding

    • Equality and diversity

Annual Conference 2024 Programme

  1. Home
  2. For members
  3. CPD & Training
  4. Annual Conference 2025
  5. Programme

Online Registration Closed Due To Popular Demand

If you would like to be added to our waiting list please email CPD@lawscot.org.uk. Registration to attend in-person on Day 4 is still available. 

The conference will take place from Monday 28 through to Thursday 31 October. The first three days are morning sessions hosted entirely online, while for Thursday’s full day programme you’ll have the option to join online or attend in person at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

As sessions are confirmed, we'll add them to this page, so please check regularly for updates.

Day 1

A Thriving and Inclusive Profession

View programme about Day 1

Day 2

A Modern and Robust Legal System

View programme about Day 2

Day 3

An Innovative and Sustainable Future

View programme about Day 3

Day 4

Keynote Speakers and Panel Discussions

View programme about Day 4

Day 1: A Thriving and Inclusive Profession

Monday 28 October | 10am - 12:30pm | Online only
10:00 - 10:05 Welcome and Housekeeping
David Lee
Conference Chair
David Lee
Director, David Lee Media & Events
10:05 - 10:10 Welcome and Introduction to Day 1
Susan Murray
Susan Murray
President, Law Society of Scotland
10:10 - 10:50 Fostering a Supportive Working Environment For All
Plenary
  • How do we cultivate a true sense of support in a hybrid atmosphere?
  • How do we demonstrate inclusion, embrace and encourage diversity and create a sense of belonging in the workplace?
  • How do we avoid inclusion ‘box ticking’ exercises?
  • Guide to creating a wellbeing strategy – why it matters and what benefits will it bring to your business?
  • 4 day working week – working smarter not harder?
Kenny Robertson
Chair
Kenny Robertson
Head of Innovation & Technology, Legal & Regulatory Affairs, NatWest
Shareen Gault
Panelist
Shareen Gault
General Counsel, Head of Risk & Compliance, Insights Learning & Development Limited
Martin Glover
Panelist
Martin Glover
Chief People Officer, Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP
Scott Stevenson
Panelist
Scott Stevenson
Associate Solicitor, Clarity Simplicity
Trish McLellan
Panelist
Trish McLellan
Director of Engagement, LawCare
5 Speakers
10:50 - 11:00 Comfort Break and Transition to Breakout Rooms

11:00 - 11:40 Breakout Sessions

Social Mobility: Surviving or Thriving
Breakout 1
  • Why a whole system approach to social mobility is needed?
Lindsay Jack
Panelist
Lindsay Jack
Head of Diversity, Careers and Outreach, Law Society of Scotland
Ayanda Ngobeni
Panelist
Ayanda Ngobeni
Future Trainnee, CMS
2 Speakers
Neurodiversity and Flourishing in the Profession
Breakout 2
  • Introduction to neurodiversity
  • Explore why neurodiversity matters in the legal sector
  • Understand the common barriers faced by neurominority groups in the workplace
  • Apply approaches that promote neuroinclusive practices for both clients and colleagues
Nelly Whaley
Nelly Whaley
Training Manager, Salvesen Mindroom Centre
Navigating Race Anxiety
Breakout 3
  • What is race anxiety?
  • What is the ‘fear of difference’ and how do we overcome this?
  • The impact of failing to have potentially difficult conversations
  • Cultural sensitivity
Nyla Khan
Nyla Khan
Founder and CEO, The Universal Truth
11:40 - 11:45 Transition back to Plenary
11:45 - 12:25 Women in the Law Panel Discussion – Is Representation Enough?
Plenary
  • How far have we come? Where are we now? Where are we going?
  • Beyond the numbers: Quality of representation
  • Intersectionality in representation
  • High levels of attrition before reaching senior positions. What are the factors driving this attrition and how can the profession better support women’s long-term careers?
  • How can men in the profession support the advancement of women? What role do they play in fostering a more inclusive work environment?
Susan Murray
Chair
Susan Murray
President, Law Society of Scotland
Cordella Bart-Stewart OBE
Panelist
Cordella Bart-Stewart OBE
Consultant, Stewart & Co Solicitors and Sitting in retirement Judge
Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe
Panelist
Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe
Lecturer in Law, Vice Chair of JUSTICE, Co-lead of the Women in the Law Project, Glasgow Caledonian University
Elaine Motion
Panelist
Elaine Motion
Chairman, Balfour+Manson
Rupa Mooker
Panelist
Rupa Mooker
Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging Manager
Professor Maria Fletcher
Panelist
Professor Maria Fletcher
Professor of European Law, University of Glasgow
6 Speakers
12:25 - 12:30 Close of Day 1 from Chair
David Lee
Conference Chair
David Lee
Director, David Lee Media & Events

Day 2: A Modern and Robust Legal System

Tuesday 29 October | 10am - 12:30pm | Online only
10:00 - 10:05 Welcome and Introduction to Day 2
David Lee
Conference Chair
David Lee
Director, David Lee Media & Events
10:05 - 10:50 A Trauma-Informed Legal System
Plenary
  • Current developments in Scottish legal landscape about trauma-informed practice/justice workforce
  • How can we practice is a way that recognises the impact of trauma, does no further harm and supports recovery by those affected by trauma
Liliana Torres Jimenez
Chair
Liliana Torres Jimenez
Policy Executive, Law Society Of Scotland
Iain Smith
Panelist
Iain Smith
Partner, Keegan Smith; and Scottish Lawyer of the Year 2020
Karyn McCluskey
Panelist
Karyn McCluskey
Chief Executive, Community Justice Scotland
Anne McKechnie
Panelist
Anne McKechnie
Consultant Forensic Clinical Psychologist, Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry
4 Speakers
10:50 - 11:35 The Rule of Law: Defending the Separation of Powers
Plenary
  • Discuss recent developments which have impacted the separation of powers between Parliament and the judiciary
  • Examine parliamentary privilege in the context of the Scottish Parliament and how this affects Parliament’s relationship with the courts
Michael P. Clancy OBE,WS
Chair
Michael P. Clancy OBE,WS
Director of Law Reform, Law Society of Scotland
Christine O'Neill KC
Panelist
Christine O'Neill KC
Partner & Chairman
Professor Stephen Tierney
Panelist
Professor Stephen Tierney
Professor of Constitutional Theory, University of Edinburgh
3 Speakers
11:35 - 11:45 Comfort Break and Transition to Breakout Rooms

11:45 - 12:25 Breakout Sessions

Dirty Money and the Rule of Law
Breakout 1: supported by our AML strategic partner, Amiqus
  • How does dirty money undermine the rule of law in the United Kingdom? Why is the United Kingdom an attractive target for money laundering e.g. through Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation?
  • What are the “lawful but awful” practices that enable dirty money to enter the United Kingdom? How should legal professionals act to uphold their professional integrity?
  • How are malevolent actors misusing legal structures and services?
Gregor Angus
Chair
Gregor Angus
Senior Business Development Manager, Amiqus
Graham Barrow
Graham Barrow
Director, Risk247 and The Dark Money Files
Colette Best
Colette Best
Director of Anti-Money Laundering, Solicitors Regulation Authority
3 Speakers
Using AI to Improve the Administration of Justice
Breakout 2
  • What are the key opportunities for using AI in the justice system?
  • How do we navigate the risks? Do we need new frameworks to help us? Whose responsibility is it?
  • How important is the human element in decision-making? Could or should decision makers in the justice system (e.g. police, judges or juries) be replaced by AI)?
Paul Mosson
Chair
Paul Mosson
Executive Director of Member Services & Engagement, Law Society of Scotland
Ellen Lefley
Ellen Lefley
Senior Lawyer, JUSTICE
2 Speakers
Why Cyber Security is still the Elephant in the Room?
Breakout 3: Supported by our cyber security strategic partner, Mitigo
  • Learn how to protect your firm against the latest cyber threats
  • Identify the common vulnerabilities that could expose your firm to cyber crime
  • Learn to safeguard your firm against cyber-attacks, using real-life examples from current incidents
  • Explore the role of cyber response services in minimising the impact of security breaches
Kerrie Machin
Kerrie Machin
Partner, Mitigo
The Human Cost of Money Laundering: The challenge for the legal sector
Breakout 4: sponsored by property searches scotland
  • The global cost and devastating human impact of money laundering
  • How money laundering fuels organised crime and terrorism and the threats to our society
  • What the role of the legal sector is when it comes to safeguarding
  • The rules and regulations we must abide by to stay ahead of the game
Mev Dzihic
Mev Dzihic
Chief Technology Officer, Verify 365
12:25 - 12:30 Close of Day 2 from Chair
David Lee
Conference Chair
David Lee
Director, David Lee Media & Events

Day 3: An Innovative and Sustainable Future

Wednesday 30 October |10am - 12:30pm | Online only
10:00 - 10:10 Welcome and Introduction to Day 3
Beth Anderson
Conference Chair
Beth Anderson
Head of Member Engagement
10:10 - 10:50 Sustainable Businesses and Talent Retention Panel Discussion
Plenary
  • Attracting, recruiting and retaining top talent
  • Understanding and leveraging motivations and ambitions
  • How can businesses align their values and practices with the priorities of the new generation entering the workforce?
  • Best practice for creating a robust succession plan
Scott Foster
Panelist
Scott Foster
Chief Operating Officer, Balfour + Manson
Nadine Stanton
Panelist
Nadine Stanton
Chief Executive, Professional Training
Beth Anderson
Chair
Beth Anderson
Head of Member Engagement
3 Speakers
10:50 - 11:00 Comfort Break
11:00 - 11:40 Sustainability – Opportunities and Obstacles
Plenary
  • What are the benefits for an organisation in adopting eco-conscious work practices?
  • LSS Climate Action Hub – the role of the Law Society in helping you combat climate change
  • What is climate fatigue and how is it affecting organisations?
Paul Gostelow
Chair
Paul Gostelow
Convenor, Law Society of Scotland Sustainability Committee
Alastair Morrison
Panelist
Alastair Morrison
Founder, 1,000,000 Hours Project, Head of Client Strategy, Pinsent Masons
Kirsty Mitchell
Panelist
Kirsty Mitchell
Legal Manager, Opportunity Green
Mark Cruickshank
Panelist
Mark Cruickshank
Managing Legal Counsel (Outsourcing, Technology & IP), Royal Bank of Scotland
4 Speakers
11:40 - 12:30 Your Newest Colleague: AI
Plenary
  • How can we successfully incorporate AI into our legal work environments?
  • Using technological advancements to improve and protect your business
  • How can AI improve services and production for clients?
  • What opportunities does AI present for improving work culture/environments?
Ally Thomson
Chair
Ally Thomson
Director, Hey Legal
Sarah Blair
Panelist
Sarah Blair
Director of Innovation, Thorntons
John Craske
Panelist
John Craske
Director of Innovation, CMS
Steph Wright
Panelist
Steph Wright
Head of Scottish AI Alliance
4 Speakers
12:30 - 12:35 Close of Day 3 from Chair

 

Beth Anderson
Conference Chair
Beth Anderson
Head of Member Engagement

Day 4: Keynote speakers and panel discussions

31 October | 9am - 5pm | Online or In-person

Day 4 will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and also streamed live to online attendees.

09:30 - 09:40 Welcome and Introduction to Day 4
Rona Dougall
Conference Chair
Rona Dougall
Broadcast Journalist and Presenter, STV
09:40 - 10:00 Opening remarks from Law Society of Scotland CEO
Plenary
Diane McGiffen
Diane McGiffen
Chief Executive, Law Society of Scotland
10:00 - 10:30 The Independence of the Legal Profession: A European Perspective
Keynote Address
Pierre-Dominique Schupp
Keynote Speaker
Pierre-Dominique Schupp
President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
10:30 - 11:10 In Conversation with the Advocate General for Scotland
Plenary
Advocate General for Scotland
Advocate General for Scotland
Baroness Smith of Cluny KC
Michael P. Clancy OBE,WS
Chair
Michael P. Clancy OBE,WS
Director of Law Reform, Law Society of Scotland
2 Speakers
11:10 - 11:50 Comfort Break, Networking and Exhibition

11:50 - 12:40 Breakout Rooms

The Use of Tech To Take the Productivity Leap
Breakout 1: Sponsored by LawWare and Denovo
  • AI: Where are we and where are we going ?
  • How can we use existing and emerging tech to create an output that works for your firm?
  • Introducing our fifth panel member: Chat GPT
  •  ‘New tech’ – how can we keep up?
Ally Thomson
Chair
Ally Thomson
Director, Hey Legal
Warren Wander
Warren Wander
Founder and CEO, LawWare
Fiona  Chute
Fiona Chute
Senior Associate , Brodies LLP
Steven Hill
Steven Hill
Managing Director and Accredited Legal Technologist, Denovo
4 Speakers
Financial Benchmarking: Key Trends Shaping Scotland’s Legal Sector
Breakout 2: Sponsored by AAB
  • In-depth financial review of the Scottish legal sector
  • Unveil key insights from the review, highlighting their significance
  • Provide actionable strategies to transform the financial performance of your legal practice
  • Whether you're looking to optimise profitability or drive sustainable growth, this session promises valuable takeaways to help you stay ahead in the competitive legal landscape
  • The Financial Benchmark report has been produced by AAB in conjunction with the Law Society of Scotland
Joel Topham
Joel Topham
Partner & Head of Legal Services, AAB
The Client Centred Legal Firm
Breakout 3: Sponsored by ReviewSolicitors and Lex Reception
  • 2025 legal prediction ‘clients will prize the quality of their experience over their legal know how’. How do we improve the overall client experience?
  • The commitment to accessibility in accessing legal services – how can we build a truly inclusive legal profession?
  • How can we use technology to improve service delivery?
Adam Hall
Adam Hall
Head of Partnerships, ReviewSolicitors
Emma Flood
Emma Flood
Head of Content, Lex Reception
Zoe Fowlie
Zoe Fowlie
Senior Legal Adviser and Head of Legal Technology, Vialex
Dr Catherine Brys
Dr Catherine Brys
Consultant, Brys Strategic Consulting
David Lee
Chair
David Lee
Director, David Lee Media & Events
5 Speakers
12:40 - 13:30 Lunch, Networking and Exhibition
13:30 - 13:45 Welcome back, Legal Pioneers Announcement
Plenary
Diane McGiffen
Diane McGiffen
Chief Executive, Law Society of Scotland
13:45 - 14:10 The AI Advantage: Is it time to say goodbye to repetitive work?
Plenary: Sponsored by Wordsmith AI
Ross  McNairn
Ross McNairn
CEO, Wordsmith AI
14:10 - 14:50 The PRO Journey
Plenary: SPONSORED BY LOCKTON
Rachel Corsie
Keynote Speaker
Rachel Corsie
Captain, Scotland Women’s National Team and Aston Villa Women
David Lee
Chair
David Lee
Director, David Lee Media & Events
2 Speakers
14:50 - 15:10 Comfort Break, Networking and Exhibition

15:10 - 15:50 Breakout Rooms - Essential Career Skills

Strategic Leadership - Who Needs It
Breakout 4
  • This session will discuss the strategic gap and debate if, why and how we should be strategic in our future business planning. We will also consider the power of unlocking creativity when generating strategic options, and consider structured approaches for evaluating potential future pathways
Dr Deborah Benson
Dr Deborah Benson
Director, The Directors Convention
Mastering your Professional Presence
Breakout 5
  • A practical session for professionals, at any point in their career, to learn how to refine their brand within the legal sector
  • How does one strengthen a pre-established presence in an industry or begin to cultivate one?
  • What ethical considerations and standards must be considered and abided by in growing one's professional presence?
  • Which strategies can you apply to the real-world to effectively implement learnings from this session?
Bernard Savage
Bernard Savage
Director, Size 10 1/2 Boots
Treading Your Own Path: Inspiring Careers
Breakout 6
  • Gain a broad perspective on the different career pathways within the legal sector
  • Reflect on your own professional development and consider which opportunities are available to you
  • Engage with a panel of experts representing a diverse range of career pathways
Olivia Moore
Panel Host
Olivia Moore
Careers & Wellbeing Manager, Law Society of Scotland
Thembe McInnes
Panelist
Thembe McInnes
Group Managing Lawyer, Dentons Helix
Joe Boyd
Panelist
Joe Boyd
Principal Solicitor, Joseph G Boyd & Co Court Lawyers
Jamie Foulis
Panelist
Jamie Foulis
Partner, Balfour+Manson
Lynda Towers
Lynda Towers
former Government lawyer, former Director of Public Law and current visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde
5 Speakers
15:50 - 16:00 Transition to Plenary
16:00 - 16:45 Keynote Address
Closing Keynote
Simon Weston CBE
Keynote Speaker
Simon Weston CBE
Falklands Veteran, Author, Broadcaster and Keynote Speaker
16:45 - 17:00 Closing Remarks
Plenary
Susan Murray
Susan Murray
President, Law Society of Scotland
Add To Favorites

Additional

  • Annual Conference 2025

In this section

  • Programme
  • Registration
  • Testimonials
  • Sponsors

Main Sponsor

Wordsmith AI

A secure AI toolkit for lawyers

Read more about Wordsmith AI
Law Society of Scotland
Atria One, 144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX
If you’re looking for a solicitor, visit FindaSolicitor.scot
T: +44(0) 131 226 7411
E: lawscot@lawscot.org.uk
About us
  • Contact us
  • Who we are
  • Strategy reports plans
  • Help and advice
  • Our standards
  • Work with us
Useful links
  • Find a Solicitor
  • Sign in
  • CPD & Training
  • Rules and guidance
  • Website terms and conditions
Law Society of Scotland | © 2025
Made by Gecko Agency Limited