Morning, Thursday, 30th April 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for legal professional ethics in the UK, and measures to strengthen workplace culture and address misconduct.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess recent regulatory proposals, including the results and implementation so far in light of the consultation by the Legal Services Board on policies related to ethical responsibilities of in-house counsel, litigation conduct, non-disclosure agreements, and strategic lawsuits against public participation.
Innovation & ethical considerations
Attendees will consider challenges for ensuring ethical use of AI in legal practice, discussing strategies and effective practice that can effectively support innovation alongside maintaining ethical standards - including the role of regulation in upholding public trust and safeguarding against the misuse of technological advances. We expect sessions to examine issues emerging from the Law Society’s continued work on ethical issues around AI, looking at latest thinking on how concerns can be addressed in areas such as bias, maintaining client confidentiality, and transparency in AI-informed decisions.
Upholding standards
Further sessions will consider effective practice in the development of ethical culture within the legal profession, including responding to challenges of sustaining standards amidst a rapidly evolving landscape. In the context of evolving Standards of Service requirements reflecting provisions arising from the Victims and Courts Bill, and the changing role and enforceability of non-disclosure agreements, priorities for legal ethics education and cross-sector collaboration will be discussed, particularly the involvement of wider business-focused regulatory frameworks. The agenda will also look at broader challenges, including diversity and inclusion, the independence of legal practice in politically sensitive cases, the role of lawyers in corporate governance, environmental, social and governance issues, and implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion policy.
Organisational responsibilities
Delegates will also examine responses to recent regulatory interventions addressing misconduct and workplace culture. Discussion will explore the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s new guidance on sexual misconduct, considering its implications for firms and chambers. Alongside this, attendees will consider findings of the Independent review of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar, assessing the practical impact of its recommendations and way forward for embedding safe, accountable and transparent cultures within legal organisations. How strengthened regulatory expectations intersect with organisational responsibilities, and what is required to ensure that cultural reform is both credible and enduring, will also be considered.
Overview of areas for discussion
- regulation and sector practice: examining implications of the Legal Services Board’s Professional Ethics and Rule of Law consultation - implementation and capacity to embed ethics into competency frameworks by 2026
- staff development: support for practitioners in adjusting to new expectations for continuous ethics training - issues for smaller firms and under‑resourced practices
- AI: questions of ethics and transparency where AI is used by courts or judges - implications for advocacy, disclosure and procedural fairness
- professional discretion: assessing new SRA guidance on sexual misconduct and strengthened enforcement arrangements - implications for decision‑making, accountability, and perceptions of fairness
- organisational culture:
- effective strategies for reducing bullying, harassment and other forms of misconduct - collaborative approaches across regulators, employers and professional bodies
- understanding and addressing persistent underlying factors driving misconduct - support needed to embed meaningful cultural change - whistleblowing protections
- support for individual and group ethical conduct as part of professional life and addressing conflicts faced by lawyers at all levels, including in-house and junior practitioners
- roles and responsibilities:
- effective leadership and integration of ethics in organisational strategy and incentives - joint working of in‑house lawyers, non-governmental organisations and advocacy groups in strengthening ethical practice
