by tess | Apr 22, 2026 | LSA Insights
The Climate Trunk – ideas on how to make the most of this resource
The Climate Trunk offers a rare thing – a steady, year-long stream of engaging content supporting a practical, structured way to build climate literacy across your organisation. These infographics aim to be the world’s clearest and most coherent visual guide to climate and the energy transition for policy makers, sustainability leaders, advisers and educators and are designed to balance realism and rigour with optimism and agency — helping people see not only the scale of the challenge, but also where influence and progress are possible.
The 52 infographics, released weekly, build a year-long narrative that shifts how people understand, talk about, and act on climate inside your organisation. The LSA has negotiated copyright agreement exclusively for LSA member firms, more information below. Sign up for updates on the Climate Trunk website, and email Asia on manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com for your password to access the infographics in the new ‘member only’ section of this website.
Ideas on how you might use this free resource:
- Create a simple internal hub or page where people can browse the library of infographics and look forward to the release of new ones
- Create a weekly “climate moment” through your internal comms, making each infographic part of a predictable rhythm. They are self-contained and self-explanatory but you can build on their power by adding a simple takeaway and or question
- Build a gallery of printed images in your communal areas
- Print a limited run onto playing cards for colleagues who sign up to collect, they’ll end up with a pack of 52
- Turn them into conversation starters for monthly informal discussions; using 3–4 of the infographics prompting questions such as What surprised you? Why is this relevant to our work?
- Use them to support bigger moments, launch them during London Climate Action Week or offer versions for Earth Day
Copyright & Usage Notice
LSA member firms are licensed to download and use these images for educational purposes, including training and upskilling colleagues through internal communications. This license does not permit use in external presentations, commercial marketing materials, or on social media platforms, except when such use is separately permitted under the original copyright terms of The Climate Trunk – ie when using platform generated link previews or unaltered screenshots.
About the creator
John Lang is an analyst and climate communicator from Aotearoa New Zealand, based in London. He works with the
Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and co-founded and leads the
Net Zero Tracker — a global initiative assessing the climate targets of governments and companies. He is an
Oxford Net Zero Associate and the founder of Consult Climate and
Kiwis in Climate, a global network of New Zealanders working across climate and related fields. He recently co-authored a
book and is currently developing the
Climate Trunk to help more people understand climate and energy, and see how the big picture fits together.
by tess | Apr 20, 2026 | LSA Insights
By Imogen O’Rorke, Nature Lead, Achill Legal
Let’s talk about nature security. The IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment last month and the government’s report on Nature Security in January – should have sharpened legal minds to the existential risks posed by nature loss for businesses and financial institutions – indeed for our entire economic and social systems that are dependent upon the services freely provided by nature (water, food, flood resilience, clean air etcetera).
Only 1% of all businesses formally report their nature risks – the scientists behind the publication from the ‘Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ went as far as to say businesses “risk extinction” if they didn’t wake up to the seriousness of biodiversity collapse and its interconnectedness with climate resilience and adaptation.
The IBA’s new ‘International Bar Association’s ‘Nature-Intelligent Legal Services Toolkit‘ is a helpful resource for LSPs in assessing their client portfolios for nature risk exposure and developing positioning to advise accordingly. This is a wake-up call on a par with the net zero imperative. Legal services providers have a vital role to play in assisting the return to “nature intelligence”.
As Wangui Kaniaru, co-chair of the IBA’s subcommittee on ESG, puts it: “ Nature risk has shifted – it’s not just an environmental conversation anymore. It’s a legal and financial risk conversation. The question for lawyers at every level is no longer whether this matters to their clients, it’s whether they have the knowledge and tools to respond. All businesses, including law firms, depend on services provided by nature as sources of value, either directly or through their supply chains. Meanwhile, we know that many business activities are adversely impacting nature, for example through contributing to climate change, pollution or over-exploitation of ecosystems. These impacts and dependencies on nature create risks for organisations and their value chains.”
As Jenni Ramos, corporate and nature lawyer, suggests “is it time for all lawyers to think like nature lawyers?”
There are other engines of invention humming away in the nature litigation space. The Rights of Nature movement that encompasses various strategies for legal personhood for natural ecosystems and non-human entities – as well as for ‘Mother Nature’ herself – has been growing in scope and ambition.
Following The Rights of Nature Symposium last June (jointly hosted by Achill Legal, ELF and FSQ) and the resulting white paper, Achill Legal has been continuing the conversation through working groups. The RoN ‘Law & Policy’ working group under the LSA brings together the groups at the heart of the movement together to map existing law and policy initiatives around RoN and share best practice for advancing adoption of its principles. While those discussions are under the Chatham House Rule, there will be a presentation event on 3 June at 5pm, kindly hosted by Simmons & Simmons. Please register your interest to attend via manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com.
A second group, launching in late March, is working on how RoN approaches might intersect with, and strengthen, nature finance and risk management. While the concept of enforceable rights for Nature might still be a controversial one, RoN is fundamentally a theory of change that can shift decision-making from “minimising harm” towards protecting and restoring ecological integrity.
If you would like to contribute to this work please contact Imogen O’Rorke on imogen@achill-legal.com.
by tess | Apr 20, 2026 | LSA Insights
Osborne Clarke, an international legal practice of nearly 2500 employees, is rolling out an innovative approach to dealing with the thorny issue of the carbon impact of business travel. We talked to Pranjal Mathur, ESG Data Analyst at Osborne Clarke to find out more.
How much of your carbon footprint is business travel responsible for? Is it a growing issue?
As of FY24/25, business travel contributed to 9% of emissions – the highest percentage for business travel emissions since the science based target was set in 2020. Combined with employee commuting, 25% of FY24/25 emissions come from travel.
How are you addressing the issue?
In FY24/25, Osborne Clarke piloted a practice group-wide carbon travel budget in the Projects, Real Estate, and Finance (PREF) group whereby emissions were tracked monthly from travel related emissions and reported to practice group senior leadership, colleagues, and relevant stakeholders. In FY25/26 (present year), a firm-wide carbon travel budget pilot has remained on track with similar engagement through senior leadership and colleagues. FY26/27 will be the first year where an integrated carbon and financial budget will be implemented – allocating a carbon price to reward good travel behaviour.
Osborne Clarke is a large firm; how did you know the trial was ready to roll out?
The executive sponsor for Osborne Clarke’s sustainability steering group, Partner Michelle McGurl, was a strong supporter of the initiative and wanted to take leadership through her practice group, PREF, to trial the very first budget. Through these actions and the engagement received across various stakeholders, it became clear that the firm was ready to take an ambitious step.
How have you engaged colleagues and brought them along with you on this journey?
Colleague engagement has been fundamental. The environmental impact of Osborne Clarke’s operations is addressed through a year-round training series called ‘Carbon Literacy’. In this course, among other areas, travel is addressed and discussed as a key contributor to Osborne Clarke’s emissions. As a result, when the carbon travel budgets were launched, employees at Osborne Clarke were able to understand the impact of travel and value their decisions around travel.
How have you communicated the trial throughout the firm?
Various modes of communication have been used throughout FY24/25 and FY25/26. This includes intranet webpages that employees can check as a ‘leaderboard’ to identify which team is leading on low carbon practices. Monthly briefings to heads of teams are sent with key facts and actions for the coming months. Senior stakeholders in Osborne Clarke’s Executive board, Operations board, and Sustainability steering group were engaged on at least a quarterly basis to share impact, anecdotes, and key learnings.
Are you running any upskilling/education programmes alongside the roll out?
Carbon travel budget briefing sessions were held with several employees across Osborne Clarke’s three office locations (London, Bristol, and Reading) as well as through dedicated Personal Assistant training sessions where emphasis on “small decisions-big impact” was shared.
Which members of the workforce are particularly key to success?
Alongside fee earners who travel for client work, business services colleagues were also targeted on optimising travel with clear purpose and objectives. It is vital that the emissions impact of travel and the ability for “everyone to chip in” is shared across fee earners and business services colleagues. This ensures that genuine decarbonisation is delivered alongside adding common purpose to the initiative.
How have you secured senior leadership engagement?
Senior stakeholders at Osborne Clarke are very driven by the “OC for Good” agenda and have always championed the delivery of key programmes at the firm. As a result, the carbon travel budget initiative was also well received and discussed at great depth to ensure fairness, accuracy and accountability. Senior leadership was interested in understanding the data behind budgets, methodology for budget allocation, and ensuring that clear messaging was delivered to the firm. Osborne Clarke’s senior stakeholders have continued to provide their time and resources to understanding objectives and ensuring that they can play a role.
Have you faced any challenges? Had any pushback?
As expected with firm wide programmes, there is always feedback on how changes can be made to improve the delivery and/or outcomes. Similarly, the carbon travel budget receives feedback on messaging, target audience, and budget allocation from multiple stakeholders. In fact, Osborne Clarke welcomes the feedback and is very interested in the challenges presented. These present opportunities for innovation and developing different solutions.
What sort of travel has been reduced?
The primary travel targeted through the carbon travel budget programme is short-haul flights. These trips are generally 4-5x more carbon intensive than equivalent train journeys. A key measure for Osborne Clarke is to measure “avoided emissions” internally to identify travel that was replaced from air travel to rail travel in key Eurostar locations.
Will the reduction in travel help save costs?
While international train travel (travelling from London to Amsterdam/Brussels/Paris) is generally more expensive than budget flights, at Osborne Clarke the focus of the carbon travel budget remains around “smart” travel, i.e., travel with clear objectives and purpose. As a result, avoiding travel that is less important is likely to have an impact on both financial costs and emissions.
How did you ensure that the day-to-day efficacy of the business at Osborne Clarke is not adversely affected?
The carbon travel budget programme fits well with a suite of ongoing “OC for Good” initiatives that are focused on engaging employees and reporting impact. Day-to-day client and internal business activity is not adversely affected as individuals at Osborne Clarke have personal responsibility for their booking of travel as needed. They are trusted to make decisions that are beneficial for the firm’s financial and low-carbon interests.
Are your clients aware of the policy? What has the feedback been?
Osborne Clarke uses various engagements from its “OC for Good” framework in client communications. Many of Osborne Clarke’s clients require vendors/suppliers to set science based targets and evidence emission reductions. The carbon travel budget initiative plays a vital role in achieving these targets and reducing emissions in line with client expectations.
What advice would you give to another firm looking to roll out a similar campaign?
Take a case-by-case approach. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions in reducing travel emissions. Travel habits are almost entirely behavioural and driven by changes in the commercial environment. However, the principle of travelling with purpose and clarity should work as there is a financial saving that can be incurred (alongside emission savings) if firms avoid travel altogether. Ensuring that senior leadership is engaged and aware is vital as they can clear hurdles and improve ease of communication to various stakeholders.
Has the LSA Business Travel Guide been helpful?
Absolutely, the guide is very consistent with Osborne Clarke’s beliefs on travelling with purpose and clear requirements. The insight from the guide helps reiterate Osborne Clarke’s understanding of the wider UK-legal sector’s journey towards emissions reduction and provides a series of clear steps that many law firms can integrate into strategic planning and budget setting exercises.
by Beth Salt | Dec 4, 2025 | LSA Insights
86 Pledges for the Ocean: The Legal Community Responds.
By Lucy Lennard, Achill Legal.
When concluding the private screening of David Attenborough’s Ocean, postcards were handed out with a simple question: What will YOU do to support our Oceans?
Over 80 came back.
What stands out wasn’t just the number—it was the specificity. These weren’t vague promises to “be more sustainable.” The audience pledged concrete commitments: timelines, measurements, real accountability. One member pledged to assess their firm’s entire investment portfolio for marine impacts by Q2. Others pledged to investigate the fish they were feeding their pets.
That level of detail matters. It’s the difference between good intentions and measurable change. The 86 postcards revealed five distinct ways the legal community is turning ocean awareness into action.
Consumer Choices: The Power of Your Plate
The majority of people focused on their daily choices. 34 pledges changed what’s on dinner plates, what’s in shopping baskets, how seafood gets sourced. The Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide appeared repeatedly—people committing to check it before every purchase.
“Commit to only buying fish in accordance with the best ratings on the Good Fish Guide”
“Give pro-bono support (and investigate the fish I feed to my cat)” “I will strictly follow good fish diet and so will my cat”
Extending the commitment to household pets demonstrates how seriously people are rethinking their relationship with seafood. These purchasing decisions, multiplied across households and restaurants, create market pressure fishing industries cannot ignore.
The Good Fish Guide– This free tool eliminates guesswork through a simple traffic light system. Before you buy fish or order at a restaurant, check the rating.
- Green: Best choice—well-managed stocks, low environmental impact
- Amber: Some concerns—acceptable occasionally
- Red: Avoid—overfished stocks or destructive fishing methods
The pledges showed that specificity works. “Only green-rated fish” creates clearer behavioural guidelines than vague “eat sustainably” intentions.
Practical swaps: Choose smaller species like sardines and herring over large predators like swordfish and tuna. If you do eat tuna, look for “pole and line” or “line-caught” labels – these methods dramatically reduce bycatch. Avoid anything bottom trawled, like prawns. Above all, avoid taking Omega 3 krill supplements – the over-extraction of krill from Antarctica is wrecking the fragile ecosystem.
Professional Action: Legal Skills for Ocean Protection
Legal expertise came next, with 19 professionals pledging to deploy their skills directly toward ocean protection and sustainability.
“I pledge to continue to work on ocean pollution claims and to propose a group claim as part of my firm.”
Group litigation proves vital, holding polluters accountable at scale, transforming individual practice into systemic environmental enforcement.
“Start a process at work assessing investments more rigorously for marine impacts.”
When investment decisions incorporate marine health, capital flows shift. Industries face financial pressure to reform.
This summer showed us what’s possible: Chloé Binet from De Bandt law firm—working entirely pro bono—secured a landmark European Court of Justice ruling for Blue Marine Foundation, challenging the European Commission’s blocking of protections for Indian Ocean tuna stocks.
Dr Tom Appleby, Blue Marine’s Head of Legal Affairs, explains why this legal support matters:
“More than two thirds of the Earth is covered by seas and oceans. Changing the management of this vast space is a huge legal challenge. No in-house team will ever have the breadth of expertise needed… Blue Marine are routinely faced with complex queries, where we can identify the questions—but we alone cannot answer them. Pro bono has been a critical ingredient for success in our projects in the UK, Europe and across the world.”
How to contribute your legal expertise:
Blue Marine Foundation needs help across Marine Protected Area frameworks, fisheries law, international ocean governance, and policy advocacy. Contact their legal team: legal@bluemarinefoundation.com
Clare Brook, Blue Marine’s CEO, responded to the pledges:
“We are utterly thrilled to have received so many pledges of support. It’s such a challenging time for NGOs, with governments reversing on environmental commitments and scrapping almost all funding. So, support like this—either in-kind or financial—is hugely uplifting and enables us to continue our vital work.”
Beyond dedicated pro bono, several pledges integrated ocean considerations into existing practice: assessing investment portfolios for marine impact, reviewing firm procurement for sustainable seafood, proposing environmental group litigation.
Political Pressure: From Commitments to Enforcement
Political pressure also featured heavily, with 17 pledges targeting MPs, policymakers, and institutional change.
“Write to my local MP to put pressure on banning trawling in UK waters.”
The UK committed to protecting 30% of its waters by 2030, yet many Marine Protected Areas still permit bottom trawling—the exact destructive practice Ocean documents so devastatingly.
“Collaborate with NGOs to raise the profile of bycatch at a political level to drive change.”
Bycatch—unintended capture and death of non-target species—destroys marine ecosystems at industrial scale. Elevating this politically requires sustained pressure from credible professional voices.
How to make your voice count:
Write to your MP with specific questions: What enforcement protocols ensure Marine Protected Areas actually protect marine life? What timeline exists for restricting bottom trawling in designated zones? What accountability measures track progress toward the 30% target?
Support targeted campaigns from Blue Marine Foundation and Marine Conservation Society. These organizations translate scientific research into policy-relevant advocacy but need amplification from professional voices to achieve political traction.
Spreading the Message
Many pledged to spread the message further by screening Ocean for colleagues, families, schools, and entire firms.
“Take everyone in the firm to watch Ocean (and their family) and then collaborate with the firm as to how we can make changes together to reduce our individual impact on our ocean.”
One screening becomes dozens of viewers, hundreds of conversations. Doug Anderson and Olly Scholey spent years capturing unprecedented footage of industrial bottom trawling precisely because invisibility enables destruction. Making the hidden visible transforms observers into participants.
Direct Action
Additionally, we had pledges for hands-on conservation: beach cleanups, river restoration, local volunteering.
“I will volunteer for a river and canal clean up day in my local area.”
Rivers carry pollution to oceans. Upstream intervention prevents downstream damage.
Join the effort:
Surfers Against Sewage coordinates beach cleanups nationwide. Direct financial support to Blue Marine Foundation and Marine Conservation Society enables their conservation work to continue despite contracting government funding.
Reduce plastic use daily: reusable containers, bottles, bags prevent waste entering water systems that flow to oceans.
What Comes Next
These pledges represent thousands of meals sourced differently, hundreds of pro bono hours redirected, dozens of MP letters, firms restructuring investment analysis, countless conversations extending awareness.
The specificity of these pledges matters. They’re not aspirational statements—they’re commitments with timelines, accountability, and measurable outcomes. One person’s pledge to review their firm’s supplier relationships by Q2 creates institutional change. Another’s commitment to check the Good Fish Guide before every purchase shifts market demand. A third’s decision to write to their MP adds constituent pressure for enforcement.
Individually, these actions seem small. Collectively, they represent the legal profession beginning to deploy its unique leverage toward ocean protection.
Your commitment:
If you haven’t made your pledge yet, email us: comms@legalsustainabilityalliance.com. Share what you’re committing to, and we’ll support your action across the legal sector.
Sir David Attenborough: “If we save our seas, we save our world.”
The legal profession is responding. Momentum exists. The question is scale.
by Beth Salt | Nov 7, 2025 | LSA Insights
Attenborough’s ‘Ocean’ Screening–Our Call to Action.
By Asia Mill, Sustainability Networks Coordinator, Achill Legal
During the first week of November, the team at the LSA had the immense privilege of hosting a private screening of David Attenborough’s Ocean in partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation. It was more than just a film night; it was a deeply affecting event that brought together members of the LSA and the wider legal profession for a crucial conversation.
The film, a passionate, beautiful, and at times deeply troubling exposé, uses unique footage to show the reality of the devastation caused by bottom trawling. The impact on those present was huge; I could see how moved people were, with the raw violence captured on screen sparking a strong, emotional response and a lively discussion in the room.
Behind the Lens and Beneath the Waves
We were honoured to be joined by the film’s creators and leading ocean advocates: Doug Anderson (Director of Underwater Photography), Olly Scholey (Producer/Director, Silverback Films), Clare Brook (CEO, Blue Marine Foundation), and Dr Tom Appleby (Head of Legal Affairs, Blue Marine).
Doug Anderson shared that his commitment to ocean storytelling was born from witnessing the destruction caused by scallop dredging in Scotland – a community effort that ultimately led to the creation of the country’s first no-take zone, supported by Tom Appleby’s pioneering legal work. Olly and Doug described the immense challenge of capturing the first-ever cinematic images of industrial bottom trawling, a pivotal moment that forced global attention onto the destruction hidden beneath the surface.
Clare Brook noted the film’s real-world power, citing how sharing this devastating footage with UK policymakers helped catalyse action, including new commitments to restrict bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
The Law of the Sea: An Outdated Framework
A key focus of the evening was the complex reality of marine law. Dr Tom Appleby delivered a stark message, explaining how outdated legal systems are the biggest challenge in protecting the ocean. He pointed out that “The sea itself doesn’t really exist in the eyes of the law,” being historically treated primarily as a fishery – a legacy inherited from ancient Roman law.
This archaic framework not only permits but often subsidises the appallingly wasteful and destructive practice of bottom trawling. We learned that as much as three-quarters of a regular catch can go back into the sea, dead, leaving the ocean floor a barren desert. Overfishing isn’t just permitted globally; it is often unregulated and actively encouraged.
Blue Marine’s legal team is working tirelessly to challenge and change this, with recent landmark successes, including the protection of the Dogger Bank. Dr Appleby’s message to the lawyers in the room was a powerful call to action: “Pretty much every single legal discipline can help – the system is such a mess, there’s room for us all.”
Hope and the Extraordinary Potential for Recovery
Despite the current devastation, the panellists stressed an incredibly hopeful message: the ocean is resilient. Marine reserves can recover in as little as four years, successfully restoring biodiversity, supporting local fisheries, and revitalising coastal economies.
Olly told our audience that no-take zones result in greater numbers of fish and marine life that ultimately spread beyond the MPAs, benefiting fishing communities, marine mammals, and ultimately, all of us. Clare noted that even against a backdrop of bleak global politics, Blue Marine is winning the fight, “each week we notch up another area protected, another politician persuaded, another legal battle won.”
Doug and Olly spoke movingly about filming communities that had chosen conservation over fishing, protecting their reefs and allowing children to swim amongst thriving marine life – demonstrating that prosperity and conservation can go hand in hand.
A Call to Action for the Legal Profession
The evening concluded with a clear and urgent plea to take action now. As lawyers, you are uniquely positioned to make a difference. As Amanda Carpenter, who moderated the discussion, reminded the audience: “You are the secret superheroes of the planet. You sit at the centre of every transaction – you can influence the future of our world.”
If you haven’t seen Ocean, please see it now. Then, make a pledge for the sea – either as an individual or on behalf of your firm – and let us know via comms@legalsustainabilityalliance.com – so we can amplify your efforts.
Suggested pledges include:
- Offer pro bono support: Utilise your legal expertise to support conservation efforts
- Support Marine Protected Areas: Help legally and practically establish MPAs
- Review supply chains: Eliminate support for unsustainable practices
- Donate to Blue Marine or take part in one of their fundraising events
In the words of Sir David Attenborough, “if we save our seas, we save our world.”
by Beth Salt | Oct 6, 2025 | LSA Insights
Equipping for the Future: Why the LSA Sustainability Academy Matters
By Asia Mill, Sustainability Networks Coordinator, Achill Legal.
If you work in the legal sector, you will know that Environmental, Social, and Governance is not a side project anymore – it is the core of responsible business. That is why I was so excited to hear about the new LSA Sustainability Academy, an initiative designed to build a pipeline of dedicated sustainability professionals in the legal industry.
My journey started with watching the initial webinar recording – I highly recommend it. The link is available here: Introducing the LSA Academy.
The Case for a Structured Pathway
The webinar brought an important issue to light: the lack of clear, accessible pathways into sustainability careers. This is where the LSA Sustainability Academy steps in, offering a Level 4 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (CRS) Practitioner Apprenticeship that is tailored for the legal world.
It is equivalent to a foundation degree, but crucially focuses on applied learning. As Simon Baker from LDN Apprenticeships stressed, the focus is on taking the theory and using it on real workplace challenges.
Programme Highlights:
- Build the Next Generation: The programme boosts the accessibility and diversity of the sustainability profession.
- Cost-Effective Capacity: For firms, especially those with the Apprenticeship Levy, it is a cost-neutral way to upskill current employees or bring in new talent.
- Shared Learning: Apprentices join a shared cohort across different firms, fostering a community of “change agents” and including sector-relevant masterclasses and networking.
- Professional Credentials: Apprentices get free professional membership to ICRS (the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability) and ISEP (the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals).
The Application: Making My Role Count
After getting my head around the big picture, I attended the first insight session in August 2025. These sessions – still ongoing – are a great opportunity to ask questions and explore how the programme could work for you. The final insight session takes place on 14th October at 1pm – you can register here, or alternatively, you can book a one-on-one session with Alex Hand from LDN if you prefer a more personalised conversation.
After the session, I received the application link in my inbox; it included 15 core questions designed to map my current experience and future ambition against the required responsibilities of a sustainability champion.
I spent an hour drafting my answers. Honestly, a few questions were not an obvious fit for my current day-to-day. But this is exactly where the support of the LSA and LDN comes in.
I booked a call with Alex Hand, who was incredibly helpful. She clarified that the application is about demonstrating potential and outlining how the apprenticeship will equip you to deliver on these responsibilities. We went through the list, finding ways my role could encompass some of the activities.
Thanks to Alex’s guidance, I submitted my application feeling confident that my enthusiasm and potential, supported by the Academy’s structure, were the key ingredients.
Navigating the Challenges (and Finding the Solutions)
The webinar was also excellent at addressing the elephant in the room: the commitment.
- The Time Commitment (80% Work / 20% Study)
Balancing full-time work with 20% protected study time can be challenging. That is why the programme is designed to be as flexible as possible, working around your workload. Every apprentice is paired with a dedicated coach to help plan and manage their time effectively, and LDN collaborates closely with line managers to ensure study time is protected by identifying realistic and flexible ways to accommodate it.
- High Responsibility, High Reward
Apprentices are expected to work on real projects early on. The programme frames this as a growth opportunity, supported by strong coaching to build confidence. As the LSA and LDN emphasise, it is about nurturing, not throwing apprentices into the deep end unsupported.
For smaller firms not paying the Apprenticeship Levy, funding can be a potential concern. The great news is the levy transfer scheme is available, allowing larger firms to donate unused funds to support apprenticeships in smaller organisations. The Academy is truly designed to be inclusive of firms of all sizes.
The LSA Sustainability Academy is a practical, structured, and highly supported way to build the skills needed for a sustainable career in law. It is about building a future-proof skillset, and I cannot wait for the launch in November 2025.
Interested in growing your own sustainability capability? You can still attend an Insight Session or contact Alex at alexandra.hand@ldnapprenticeships.com.
