Navigating Change: Younger Lawyers Peer-to-Peer Exchange

As part of the member-only sessions at the February 2025 BHRLA Conference, the Association convened a dedicated “Younger Lawyer Peer-to-Peer Exchange” session for non-partners or those with fewer than ten years of legal practice. Early in the session, a short survey revealed participants' diverse practice backgrounds and the wide range of business and human rights (BHR) issues they encounter in their daily work. Seventeen lawyers from ten firms participated in a collaborative discussion focused on professional development, training, mentorship, and deeper engagement with the BHRLA community.

Training Needs and Priorities

Participants expressed interest in a wide-ranging curriculum—from foundational frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and International Criminal Law (ICL), to practical applications like stakeholder engagement, due diligence, and compliance program design. A priority was understanding how different regulatory regimes—including the CSDDD and CSRD—interconnect, and how they may be transposed across EU jurisdictions. There was strong demand for pragmatic, commercially-focused perspectives and region-specific insights from practitioners with deep experience, including in-house counsel, NGO representatives, and senior BHR lawyers.

Rather than formal lectures, participants preferred informal, peer-led roundtables. Suggested topics included case law developments, litigation trends, and real-world implementation of CSRD. While in-person sessions were favored, the group recognized the necessity of hybrid formats to ensure broader access—including future meetings in continental Europe and side sessions for younger lawyers at the annual BHRLA Conference—and to embrace multi-jurisdictional perspectives.

Mentorship Models: Flexible, Peer-Driven, and Cross-Firm

The discussion on mentorship underscored a desire for consistent but flexible support systems. While internal mentorship (i.e. drawn from within a younger lawyer's own law firm) was considered ideal, many participants highlighted the value of connecting with external mentors given the often-isolated nature of BHR practice within firms. A hybrid model was proposed: quarterly talks from practitioners, a rotating “buddy system” for monthly peer check-ins, and bi-monthly pairings with senior mentors. This approach aims to blend peer learning, intergenerational guidance, and community-building.

Building Visibility and Engagement

Participants called for greater visibility of BHRLA activities among younger lawyers—many of whom were unaware they were automatic members by virtue of their firm’s membership. A proposed solution includes a clear introductory communication distributed via firm contact points, outlining how to join mailing lists and get involved. To strengthen community engagement, participants proposed younger-member-only networking events twice yearly—one in London and one at the BHRLA/UN Forum. These would feature short informal presentations (5–10 minutes) from volunteers on recent work, followed by casual drinks. A “lunch match” format, modeled on arbitration practice networks, was also discussed for cities with sufficient junior lawyer representation.

Participants also welcomed opportunities to contribute content to the BHRLA's platforms—such as blog posts, legal Q&As, or trend summaries. Recognizing that some firms may require partner approval for public posts, the group suggested reposting firm-published content on the BHRLA website or social channels, accompanied by email circulation and LinkedIn promotion.

‍

‍