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Centre for Commercial Law Studies

qLegal encourages students to adopt a climate conscious approach to legal practice

Embedding sustainability within programmes and operations to ensure qLegal’s work contributes positively to planet and society is a key focus this academic year.

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qLegal students from the Future of Law: Green Talks

Mindful of UNESCO’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Student Law Clinic Climate Justice Pledge. qLegal has created new opportunities to engage students in the conversation about the intersection of sustainability and law. 

Sustainability has already been embedded in qLegal’s core activities in various ways during the first semester, including: 

Hosting a panel event on “Adopting a Climate-Conscious Approach to Pro Bono” as part of the UK Pro Bono Week 2024 

qLegal hosted its third annual pro bono panel and networking event on Wednesday, 6 November, at CCLS. This year’s theme, “Adopting a Climate-Conscious Approach to Pro Bono,” sparked engaging discussions on the legal profession’s critical role in supporting GreenTech startups and driving positive environmental change. 

The panel featured Nick Shipp (Kilburn & Strode), Julia Hemmings (Baker McKenzie), Michael Watson (Pinsent Masons), Helena Siebenrock (CMS UK), and Tayfun Yildiz (qLegal), and was moderated by Karen Watton, qLegal Director. The panellists shared valuable insights on a range of unique legal challenges facing the GreenTech industry, such as navigating complex IP protections, avoiding greenwashing, and ensuring compliance with evolving sustainability-focused regulations. The event concluded with a lively speed networking session, where panellists engaged with students.

Offering the inaugural 'Future of Law: Green Talks' project as part of qLegal’s Future of Law Programme

The project provided 12 students with the opportunity to undergo qLegal’s full training, where they learned traditional and professional skills, brainstormed topics, and prepared 6-minute talks on how innovation in specific fields will impact the future of law, with a particular focus on sustainability considerations. The students worked in pairs and were supported by mentors from Ropes & Gray and Bloomberg. 

On 5 December 2024, qLegal hosted the “Future of Law: Green Talks” competition finals at the prestigious London offices of Ropes & Gray LLP and awarded the most innovative and inspirational speeches. 

The talks celebrated innovative ideas addressing sustainability challenges, with speeches on topics such as FinTech for green innovation, sustainable fashion, and aviation. Please check out our LinkedIn post for more details about the event and finalists, including standout presentations on green investment incentives, lawyers driving sustainability, and the role of intellectual property in advancing sustainable development goals. 

The event wasn’t just about sharing ideas – it was also an opportunity for professional growth. Judges from Ropes & Gray, Bloomberg, and Imperial College London provided invaluable feedback on the art of public speaking, emphasising the importance of confident and clear delivery, tailoring complex concepts to the audience, structuring presentations with a problem-solution-impact framework for stronger engagement, and continuously improving through practice and learning from skilled speakers. 

Special thanks to our judges, Eve Ellis, Detelina Milanova-Zlatareva, Sarvesh Chadha, and Sara Roberts, as well as our partners, Ropes & Gray, for hosting us, and to Nicky Trimble for supporting us in making this event possible. 

Supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs tackling climate-related issues 

This academic year, qLegal students have already supported 16 start-ups and entrepreneurs working on sustainable or GreenTech initiatives across the Externship and Legal Advisory Programmes. Further initiatives, including a Legal Design project focused on supporting GreenTech start-ups, are also underway.  

qLegal is committed to offering students opportunities to engage with these important topics, and to support the entrepreneurs and start-ups seeking to develop innovative, sustainable solutions for the benefit of all. 

 

 

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