Agenda item

The Committee welcomed Quazim Khan and Matthew Smerdon, representatives from the Legal Education Foundation, a social welfare charity, to the meeting.

The Committee was advised that the work of the charity was to promote the advancement of legal education with the aim of improving access to and use of legal aid where it was needed. The City Bridge Trust was supporting the Foundation in the Justice First Fellowships, which aimed to train the next generation of social justice lawyers.

The Justice First Fellowship scheme supports two-year training contracts for trainee lawyers, as well as providing additional support, training and networking. Fellows were also encouraged to deliver a project in partnership with their host organisation. Hosting a Fellow gave organisations increased capacity and a platform, and enabled them to lead and influence decision makers in their communities. The City Bridge Trust and Legal Education Foundation were co-funding 6 Fellows across London over the next 3 years. The outlook for the programme was very promising, with the Justice First Fellowship on course to have appointed 51 Fellows by February 2018.

The Committee thanked both representatives for their presentation.