Meet the Junior Solicitors Network committee

6 minutes read
Read later
Print
The Junior Solicitors Network (JSN) committee advises the Law Society on how to support junior solicitors. Meet the advisory committee.

The following people are members of the JSN advisory committee:

Email juniorlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk to contact the committee.

The following represent junior solicitors on the Law Society Council:

Every month, the Law Society Gazette publishes an article written by a member of the JSN. Read the Gazette articles

Committee members

Daniel George Peacock – chair 

Daniel George Peacock

Daniel is chair of the Junior Solicitors Network advisory committee and the National Junior Lawyers Division committee.

He has previously held vital positions in his local junior lawyers groups (Newcastle & North East JLD and the Sunderland Law Society) over the last four years.

Daniel graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2017 having completed his LLB, legal practice course (LPC) and LLM.

Daniel has worked at several specialist firms in the Newcastle and Durham area since graduating, and qualified into a litigation and dispute resolution role in 2022.

Daniel is particularly interested in increasing the engagement of local junior lawyers’ groups and law societies up and down the county.

Daria Dybov – immediate past chair

Darja Cernobrevic is a white woman with long, straight blonde hair. She is smiling and wears a dark blazer and silver necklace.Daria Dybov is a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence at Irwin Mitchell in London, and was chair of the JSN and National Junior Lawyers Division Committee from 2022 to 2023.

Her journey in the legal sector began in 2014 when she started as a paralegal, followed by commencing her training contract in 2016, and qualifying as a solicitor in 2018. She completed her LPC with the University of Law in London and holds a master’s degree in law, business and management with the same university.

Daria is deeply passionate about various aspects of the legal profession, including diversity and inclusion, access to justice, mental health and wellbeing, technology, education, and development. She actively participates as a speaker at events addressing these vital topics, with a particular focus on aspiring and junior solicitors (up to five years' PQE).

Daria's primary mission is to provide unwavering support and guidance to fellow junior lawyers. She is committed to ensuring that any advancements within the legal profession are in the best interests of junior lawyers and that their voices are not only acknowledged but heard, recognising that they represent the future of the profession. Daria is dedicated to creating an environment where all junior lawyers can thrive and fulfil their full potential. 

Rebekah Sutcliffe – vice chair

Rebekah Sutcliffe

Rebekah Sutcliffe is a solicitor at Clifton Ingram LLP in Berkshire who qualified in April 2022.

Prior to her training contract, Rebekah read law at Leeds Beckett University and went on to study the LPC at the University of Sheffield.

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield, Rebekah subsequently worked as a paralegal in various disciplines including personal injury, commercial litigation, corporate and commercial before successfully securing her training contract in 2019.

Rebekah has actively been involved with the JSN advisory committee and National Junior Lawyers Division on a regional level for several years, and is the chair of the Junior Lawyers Division for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Alongside these commitments, Rebekah also holds a committee role on the Thames Valley Young Professionals networking group in Reading, as well as acting as a mentor to law students and aspiring solicitors.

Rebekah can be contacted on LinkedIn. 

Sairah Hussain

Sairah Hussain is a solicitor in the professional indemnity team at a large international law firm in Bristol. She read law at Leeds University and went on to study the LPC.

Sairah worked in various local law firms prior to securing a training contract and specialising in crime and regulatory law, at which stage she took a career break before returning to the profession and moving to a new discipline which she thoroughly enjoys and challenges her.

Sairah was motivated to join the JSN advisory committee to help break barriers for the next generation of junior lawyers and to make a difference in creating and inclusive and open environment for all.

In particular she wishes to bring to the forefront pertinent issues that hinder junior solicitors’ development including mental health and progression in the workplace.

Obaid Bin-Nasir

Obaid Bin-Nazir is a man of South Asian heritage with short black hair and a long black beard. He is smiling and wears a burgundy suit and white shirt.Obaid Bin-Nasir is in-house legal counsel at ECA, a construction trade body.

He graduated from King's College London and completed his LPC at BPP London, before training at Trowers & Hamlins LLP and qualifying via the equivalent means route in 2021.

Obaid then worked as a qualified solicitor at Simmons & Simmons LLP before transitioning in-house.

He is passionate about making sure the JSN is a valuable information hub for junior lawyers and is an inclusive and diverse network.

Obaid has a particular interest in removing barriers to entry into the profession and supporting and mentoring aspiring solicitors. 

Elizabeth Russell

Elizabeth Russell is a white woman with long, straight blonde hair. She is smiling and wears a black blazer and black shirt.Elizabeth Russell is an associate solicitor in the property litigation team at Teacher Stern LLP in London.

She graduated with a first class honours degree and completed the LPC at the University of Law with a distinction.

Elizabeth was previously joint chair of Hertfordshire Junior Lawyers Division and is vice chair of the London Young Lawyers Group.

She is looking forward to supporting aspiring and junior lawyers over the next two years.

Aisling Hayward

Aisling Hayward is a white woman with long, wavy blonde hair. She is smiling and wears a black dress.Aisling Hayward is a trainee solicitor at Wilsons. She became involved with the JSN through attending local events.

She was social secretary for Hertfordshire Junior Lawyers Division before progressing to the role of chair.

Aisling has found the JSN beneficial in her journey to becoming a trainee solicitor. She is excited to continue the work of the advisory committee.

James Woodhouse

James Woodhouse is a white man with short dark brown hair. He is smiling and wears a dark suit, white shirt and black tie.James Woodhouse is a trainee solicitor at SSE plc.

Before starting his training contract, James studied law with business at the University of Portsmouth before completing his LPC at the University of Law, Bristol.

James is excited to engage with like-minded junior lawyers.

Lara Oseni

Lara is a black woman with short hair and wearing glasses.

Lara Oseni is a legal officer/legal trainee working in professionals regulation at the General Pharmaceutical Council. She is currently undertaking the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and will qualify in 2023.

Lara has extensive experience working in various disciplines including professionals regulation and criminal law and enjoys actively campaigning for equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as gender parity within the workplace and the legal profession.

She is excited to have been elected into this role and looks forward to interacting with and improving the experiences of junior and aspiring solicitors entering into the profession. Lara is passionate about this and is committed to doing so in this position and beyond her tenure.

Kiera O'ConnorKiera is a white woman with blonde hair. She is wearing a green blouse and a black jacket. She is smiling and standing in front of a white wall.

Kiera is a current LPC student, where she works as a paralegal part time. 

She has recently begun her new appointment as chair of Hertfordshire Junior Lawyers Division, where she has sat on the committee for four years. 

She is eager to contribute to making the legal profession more accessible and ensure that adequate support is in place to support aspiring and junior lawyers through their journey.

She is thoroughly looking forward to working on the fantastic projects the JSN is working on.

Harry ClarkHarry Clark is a white man with brown hair. He is wearing glasses and a checked shirt. He is smiling and standing in front of a white wall.

Harry Clark is an associate in the betting, gaming and interactive entertainment team at Mishcon de Reya. He studied law at the University of York before qualifying as a solicitor in September 2022.

Harry frequently volunteers for initiatives that aim to help broaden access to the legal profession irrespective of background, including through his own educational initiative and podcast, 'More from Law', which provides free resources for aspiring and junior lawyers to learn more about the ins and outs of the legal profession.

You can contact Harry on most social media channels @harryclarklaw.

Rachel LeeRachel Lee is a white woman with long brown hair. She is wearing a long sleeve black top, black trousers and a gold necklace. She is smiling and standing on a staircase in front of a green wall decorated with framed pictures.

Rachel Lee is a solicitor specialising in medical negligence, at Wolferstans in Plymouth. Her dedication to the field led to her achieving accreditation by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), with litigator status. 

Rachel has a passion for equality, diversity and inclusion and as a lawyer with hidden disabilities, she is a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusivity within the legal profession. Rachel is thrilled to play a pivotal role in creating and promoting opportunities with the JSN & JLD, as well combating challenges and issues, junior lawyers are facing. Rachel is looking forwards to playing a part in creating more regional opportunities for junior lawyers, and putting the South West back on the map.

Nusrat SiddiqueNusrat is an Asian woman with shoulder length brown hair. She is wearing a black jacket. She is smiling, closed mouthed, in front of a white background.

Nusrat qualified as a solicitor in 2019.  She read Law at the University of Surrey, completed her LPC at BPP Law School, then trained and worked as a family law solicitor at an established firm in London before joining Rayden Solicitors.

Nusrat is passionate about promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession.

Amy Childs Amy is a white woman with long brown hair. She is wearing a pink shirt and blue jacket. She is smiling in front of a dark background.

Amy Childs is a fifth year solicitor apprentice in the professional indemnity team at Kennedys Law LLP. She is currently studying towards her law degree with BPP University (Bristol) and will sit the solicitors qualifying exam (SQE) in 2025.

Amy has co-authored a number of articles covering topics including case law, legal updates and guidance for junior solicitors.

Amy is passionate about raising awareness of alternative routes into the legal profession and encouraging aspiring solicitors. Being based in a regional office, Amy is keen to promote and support networking for junior solicitors in the regions.

Amy can be contacted on LinkedIn.

Lauren BashamLauren is a white woman. She is wearing a white shirt and black jacket.

Lauren Basham is a corporate solicitor at Harrison Clark Rickerbys.

She is known for sharing her legal journey on social media for aspiring and junior lawyers through her Instagram @Laurendoeslaw, podcast and Linkedin.

Lauren is excited to have been elected into the role and committed to supporting junior lawyers thrive.

Shereen Johal

Shereen Johal is an associate solicitor in the financial services disputes team at Shoosmiths LLP based in Birmingham.

She is actively involved with the Birmingham Law Society where she established (and now chairs) the LGBTQ+ sub-committee, which forms part of the wider Equality and Diversity Committee.

Shereen is also a member of Future Faces of Chamber of Commerce – Greater Birmingham's network for young professionals.

Shereen is passionate about diversity and inclusion and is involved in many initiatives and a variety of social mobility projects. She helps to break down barriers young individuals face coming into the profession and advocates positive change.

Shereen can be contacted on LinkedIn.

Maximise your Law Society membership with My LS

Sign up