Jonathan Andrews

SUB-COMMITTEES

Jonathan Andrews

Jonathan Andrews

’m honoured to have been chosen by an electorate of over 30,000 people – made up of every individual on the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales of less than 6 years’ PQE – to serve as their representative on the Law Society Council. Alongside my great fellow Council members Bal Atwal, Cobi Bonani and Lizzy Truman (all likewise newly elected this year), I look forward to ensuring the voices of junior lawyers – including the members of Westminster and Holborn Law Society – are heard on Council.

For those who don’t know me, I’ve set out below a brief overview of my background, experience and interests.

■ I’m a solicitor of 2PQE working in the Entertainment and Media team at Reed Smith (with a particular focus on litigation). I live in Orpington, but I’m also proud to have a strong family connection to Westminster – it’s where my mother and aunt were born, grew up and went to school (attending Pimlico School), where I went to university (King’s College London, reading English – I later attended BPP in Holborn for the LPC), and where my great-gran (who I’d regularly visit) lived all her life.

■ Since 2016 I’ve sat on the Law Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee – during which time I’ve been an LPC student, trainee, and finally a junior solicitor. Five years’ experience on a Law Society committee prior to my election has been great experience for understanding how the society’s internal structures work and will no doubt be of assistance in effectively advocating for my constituents on Council.

■ I’m a passionate advocate of fair access to and advancement within the legal profession, and having overcome several barriers to gain a training contract (including being on the autism spectrum and coming from a non-selective state school), I’m determined to ensure others can achieve the same. Since 2014 (when I was searching for a training contract myself), I’ve worked with firms to level the playing field for applicants of all identities and backgrounds – which has influenced several to, among other things, alter recruitment processes to address systemic biases against disabled and neurodivergent people. I’ve also served as a trustee of national charity Ambitious about Autism, supporting its ‘Autism Exchange’ initiative which has created 100+ jobs cross-sector (including across several law firms), and having been a proud member of Aspiring Solicitors ever since they assisted me in securing a training contract, I’m also a firm supporter of their ‘Think Talent’ internship program for neurodivergent members. In recent years I’ve supervised those undertaking the program at Reed Smith myself, and while there is still much more to do, I’ve been very pleased to see a large increase in the number of openly neurodivergent, and particularly autistic, applicants and trainees/future trainees since I began advocating – when it felt like I was the only applicant open about being on the autistic spectrum.

■ I’m also an Equality Leader at the mental health charity Mind, working to ensure that those from all backgrounds can access mental health services and support and to promote wellbeing more widely in work and society. Wellbeing and support are two of the biggest issues facing junior lawyers, and with recent reports showing 83% of junior lawyers believe their employer could be doing more to provide help, there is clearly a pressing need for more to be done. I’ve helped make this a reality at Reed Smith, ensuring that those isolated by COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing had the opportunity to meet socially with others remotely. Another key area of focus as firms begin to plan returns to offices following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions will undoubtedly be flexible working – in particular, how to ensure this is implemented in a way that gives junior lawyers genuine choice and control over working patterns and supports their overall wellbeing. There is undoubtedly scope for firms to share best practice in this area, to ensure that similar programs can be implemented as widely as possible.

■ My campaigning has been widely recognised, including as European Campaigner of the Year 2016, a Queen’s Young Leader 2017, the Open University’s youngest-ever honorary graduate in 2018, the Law Society’s Junior Lawyer of the Year 2019 and being named Britain’s fourth most influential disabled person by the Shaw Trust Power List 2020. I’ve always used this recognition to continue to fight for improvements and make a difference, and I firmly intend to continue this on Council.

In short, I very much look forward to tackling the key issues facing junior lawyers as a Council member, and my firm ethos will be to ensure as many opportunities reach junior lawyers – of whatever background and identity – as possible. I look forward to meeting many of you in the future, and in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch at https://www.reedsmith.com/ en/professionals/a/andrews-jonathan-j. ■

Jonathan Andrews

Solicitor

Reed Smith