New junior lawyers division aims to support, represent and connect early career lawyers
Birmingham Law Society has announced the launch of its Junior Lawyers Division (JLD), a new initiative designed to bring together aspiring and early-career legal professionals from across the city.
The division, established in 2026, has been formed through a collaboration building on the work of the Birmingham Solicitors Group. It brings students, trainees, newly qualified solicitors and junior lawyers under a single, unified structure. The JLD will operate as the collective voice for junior members within Birmingham Law Society and the wider local legal profession.
According to Birmingham Law Society, the division has been created to support, represent and inspire the next generation of lawyers practising in the city. The JLD will deliver a programme of professional development, networking, mentoring, wellbeing initiatives and social activities, aimed at helping members develop skills, build professional relationships and navigate the early stages of their careers.
Diversity, inclusion and access to the profession are central to the division’s purpose. Birmingham Law Society has said these principles will underpin the JLD’s activities and inform its approach to supporting junior legal professionals.
Matt O’Brien, President of Birmingham Law Society, said the launch marked an important development for both the organisation and the profession locally. He said the creation of a dedicated division for junior lawyers would ensure their views are represented and that they have access to appropriate support and opportunities. He added that the JLD reflects the society’s commitment to developing talent, promoting inclusion and strengthening Birmingham’s legal community.
The JLD is intended to act as a link between junior lawyers and Birmingham Law Society, ensuring that emerging perspectives are reflected in discussions about the profession at a local level. The division will also encourage junior members to play an active role in shaping professional activity and engagement across the city.
Christie Nelson of Freeths LLP, Co-Chair of the Junior Lawyers Division, said the division aims to create an environment where junior lawyers feel supported, heard and connected. She said collaboration and shared experience would help to build an inclusive community for those in the early stages of their legal careers.
Kristian Campbell-Drummond of Weightmans, also Co-Chair of the division, described the launch as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across Birmingham’s legal sector. He said the JLD would provide practical support, professional development and a sense of belonging for junior lawyers at different stages of their careers.
Birmingham Law Society said the creation of the Junior Lawyers Division reinforces the city’s reputation as a supportive and forward-thinking legal hub, focused on developing future legal talent.