n 2018, SKB Law—an award-winning family law firm based in Bradford, Yorkshire—launched the SKB Law Academy, a learning platform to support more young people and women who want to enter the legal profession. Join Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE as she shares how the firm identified the need in their community, why they decided to do something, the role technology has played in enabling them, and how you can start making a social impact in your practice. Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE, SKB Law

1. How your law firm
can make a
positive social
impact.
by Sarah Khan-Bashir
MBE

2. IDENTIFYING
NEED IN THE
COMMUNITY
SKB Law located in Bradford - one of
youngest cities in England 30% under 20
years old = 160,000 young people
So we receive lots of CVs and Training
Contract requests...some great but so many
Cut and paste letters
Spelling mistakes
Coffee cups and interviews
Something's wrong. Not student's fault.

3. became a
Sole Practitioner -
free to choose what
type of firm I want
to build.
met someone at
dinner who
asked
"if there's a
problem, what
shall we do about
it?"
In 2017 - Two Things Happened

4. WHY WE DID
SOMETHING
Students are our future workforce.
As employer, I can offer 'soft landing'
- space for students to learn, make
mistakes, and grow.
As smaller businesses, we can
introduce changes quickly.
2018 - launched employability
workshops and structured work
placements.

5. WORKSHOPS
Ask questions
CV clinics
Interview Tips
Overcome barriers
Career Pathways
Mock Interview Practice

6. PLACEMENTS
CV + interview
Structured 5-day programme
Legal problems
Soft skills
Clio experience

7. In 2019 - launched
SKB Law Academy

8. ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY

9. "CLIO GIVES ME THE
FREEDOM TO
SUPPORT MY TEAM,
CLIENTS AND
COMMUNITY."
deliver workshops
stay connected to team
monitor and track cases
law tech is key to firm

10. WORKSHOPS
IN TWO
YEARS. .
1000+ STUDENTS
20 PARTNERS
PLACEMENTS
28 STUDENTS

11. HOW YOU CAN
INTEGRATE
SOCIAL IMPACT
INTO YOUR
PRACTICE
PLAN - what issues matter to your firm /
community? Small businesses can make a big
difference.
INTEGRATE - the Academy is part of our firm.
It's not an add-on, so everyone takes part in
workshops, legal clinics and placements.
Embeds a culture of learning and innovation.
EXPLORE - consider new partners and who else
should be in your team i.e. tech, innovators.
LISTEN AND LEARN - ask for feedback and
adapt accordingly.

12. what kind of
legal community
do we want to
build?

13. how can we
best serve
our clients?

14. QUESTIONS?