Annual Conference 2023 Programme
The conference will take place from Monday 9th through Thursday 12th 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.
Day 1: Supporting Our Members to Thrive Through Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion
Monday 9 October | Online only | 3 hours CPD
10.00-10.10: Welcome and introduction to Day 1
Chair
Liz Campbell
10.10-11.00: Plenary A - Diversity and inclusion: how do you do it?
Diversity is the easier part, but inclusion is the really difficult bit:
- How do we cultivate a sense of belonging? Is it possible?
- What is it that makes people feel really included?
- How do we avoid just ticking boxes in this area?
- Connection with wellbeing in relation to people with mental health challenges.
Host
Susan Murray
4 Speakers
11.00-11.15: Comfort break and transition to sub-plenaries
Sub-plenary sessions 11.15-12.00
Understanding more about anxiety
Sub-Plenary 1
Join Steering group members Trish McLellan and Catherine Hart to discuss the impact anxiety can have and identify strategies and resources to help colleagues manage it.
Speaker
Trish McLellan
Speaker
Catherine Hart
2 Speakers
Stress & Burnout - Is this happening to me? How do leaders protect their own mental health as well as everyone else's’
Sub-Plenary 2
- Who looks after the leaders?
- How do leaders protect their own mental health as well as everyone else’s?
Speaker
Dr Sigi Joseph
Speaker
Dr Jane Catley
2 Speakers
12.00-12.05: Transition back to plenary
12.05-12.50: Plenary B - What you need to know about Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion and why it matters
- Why embracing EDI is vital to innovate and sustain the future of the profession?
- Why is it key for your business and what benefits will it bring?
- What is the business case and what are the costs of NOT implementing such strategies?
- Guide to creating a wellbeing strategy
Host
Sheila Webster
5 Speakers
12.50-12.55: Close of Day 1 from Chair
Chair
Liz Campbell
Day 2: Innovation and efficiency in the legal profession
Tuesday 10 October | Online only | 3 hours CPD
10.00-10.05: Welcome and introduction to Day 2
Chair
Paul Mosson
10.05-10.55: Plenary A - Sustainability and climate change
Host
Paul Gostelow
Speaker
Kirsty MacArthur
Speaker
Sarah Lonie
Speaker
Iona McEntee
3 Speakers
10.55-11.05: Comfort break and transition to sub-plenaries
Sub-plenary sessions 11.05-11.50
Incorporating sustainability into firm governance and strategy: observations and discussion
Sub-Plenary 1
- Key trends/Aspects of ESG/Sustainability that require internal governance
- The approach of lawyers when advising clients
- Where does this impact strategy
Speaker
Michael Watson
Can tech make your business more secure and efficient in a remote setting?
Sub-Plenary 2
Host
Jennifer Cummings
Speaker
Kerrie Machin
Speaker
Steven Hill
2 Speakers
11.50-12.00: Transition back to plenary
12.00-12.50: Plenary B - Legal Tech, AI and ChatGPT: A year like no other
- What has happened in this practice year around AI and the legal sector
- Our survey results on AI use by Scottish lawyers
- What lies ahead
Speaker
Ally Thomson
12.50-12.55: Close of Day 2 from Chair
Chair
Paul Mosson
Day 3: Modern and effective regulation
Wednesday 11 October | Online only | 3 hours CPD
10.00-10.10: Welcome and introduction to Day 3
Chair
Kevin Lang
10.10-11.00: Plenary A - AML compliance
Host
Jenni Rodgers
Speaker
Ian Messer
Speaker
Richie Stewart
2 Speakers
1.00-11.50: Plenary B - A complaints system that works for everyone – what needs to change to deliver an effective, quicker and simpler process?
Speaker
Vicky Crichton
Speaker
Martin Campbell
Speaker
Craig Cathcart
3 Speakers
11.50-12.05: Comfort break
12.05-12.55: Plenary C - Protecting an independent profession – can the arguments about protecting the rule of law vs. state intervention in legal regulation be overcome?
Host
Kevin Lang
3 Speakers
Day 4: Keynote speakers and panel discussions
Thursday 12 October | Online or in-person | 6 hours CPD
9.30-9.40: Welcome and introduction to Day 4
Chair
Rona Dougall
9.40-10.00: Opening remarks from LSS CEO
10.00-10.15: Opening Keynote - From global to local: the rule of law and human rights as international values
Speaker
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil
10.15-11.00: Plenary A - Continuing the conversation: think global, act local
3 Speakers
11.00 -11.20: Comfort break and transition to sub-plenaries
Sub-plenary sessions 11.20-12.00
Account rules
Sub-Plenary 2
Chair
Chris O'Day
Speaker
Sharon Brownlee
Speaker
Natalie Cooke
2 Speakers
12.00-12.05: Transition back to plenary
12.05-12.45: Plenary B - The journey and learning from the ‘Trauma-aware law’ group
Host
Rona Dougall
3 Speakers
12.45-12.50: Close of morning session
12.50 -14.00: Lunch and networking
14.00-14.05: Welcome back from Chair
14.05-14.50: Plenary C - Female leaders: why we need them and how do we keep them?
Host
Naeema Yaqoob Sajid
4 Speakers
14.50-15.00: Comfort break and transition to sub-plenaries
Sub-plenary sessions 15.00-15.40
How a new approach to business development is required to attract better clients and new hires.
Sub-Plenary 4
- Why just going to the same old events won’t cut it anymore.
- What you can do to future proof your practice in a tougher market.
- Secrets how to be effective in promoting your business time efficiently.
Speaker
Bernard Savage
Legal Technology – Chat GPT Interactive Workshop
Sub-Plenary 5
- Live polling including selecting a project we will work on using Chat GPT
- Live demonstration of Chat GPT
- Creating an output that you can use in your work or firm
Speaker
Ally Thomson
Financial management in law firms
Sub-Plenary 6
- How financial management is a key aspect of leadership.
- What legal business leaders should be monitoring and why.
- How to maximise the profit from your resources.
Speaker
Joel Topham
15.40-15.50: Transition back to plenary
15.50-16.10: Closing keynote
16.10-16.20: Closing remarks
16.20-16.25: Chair: Close of conference
16.30 Drinks reception