Meet the Junior Solicitors Network committee

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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 PeacockDaniel is chair of the JSN 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.

She was chair of the JSN and National Junior Lawyers Division Committee from 2022 to 2023.

Daria qualified 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 passionate about diversity and inclusion, access to justice, mental health and wellbeing, technology, education, and development.

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

Rebecca has long brown hair, she is wearing a black dress and grey jacket. She is standing in front of a wood panelled wall, with her hand on her hip. Rebekah Sutcliffe is a corporate and commercial solicitor, having qualified in March 2022.

Before 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 worked as a paralegal in various disciplines including personal injury, commercial litigation, and corporate and commercial, before successfully securing her training contract in 2019.

Rebekah has actively been involved with the JSN advisory committee and National Juniors Lawyers Division for several years, having previously held the positions of vice president and president of the Junior Lawyers Division for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, and having been a JSN executive committee member for two years.

Rebekah is passionate about increasing engagement with junior lawyers up and down the country and would like to do more around diversity and inclusion, so all junior lawyers feel they have a place within the legal profession.

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 before securing a training contract and specialising in crime and regulatory law. 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 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 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 Parker

Elizabeth Russell is a white woman with long, straight blonde hair. She is smiling and wears a black blazer and black shirt.Elizabeth Parker is a senior 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 co-chair of the London Young Lawyers Group.

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

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 solicitor at Matheson LLP within the Energy and Infrastructure Group having completed his training contract in-house with SSE plc.

Prior to commencing his training contract, James studied law with business at the University of Portsmouth before completing the 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 screening decision maker at the Nursing and Midwifery Council. She is currently undertaking the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Lara has extensive experience working in various disciplines including professionals regulation and criminal law.

She enjoys actively campaigning for equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as gender parity within the workplace and the legal profession.

Lara enjoys interacting with and improving the experiences of junior and aspiring solicitors entering into the profession.

Kiera O'Connor

Kiera 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 O'Connor is an LPC student, where she works as a paralegal part time. 

She is chair of Hertfordshire Junior Lawyers Division, where she sat on the committee for four years. 

Kiera 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 Clark

Harry 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 Lee

Rachel has brown hair and brow eyes. She is wearing a black jacket, black t-shirt and gold necklaces. She is smiling.Rachel Lee is a solicitor specialising in medical negligence, at Enable Law. 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 and 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 Siddique

Nusrat 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 Siddique is an associate solicitor. 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 studying law with BPP University (Bristol) and will sit the 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 Basham

Lauren 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.

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.

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