The Legal Sustainability Alliance – working together to get to net zero faster

Ahead of our workshop with the Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA), the LSA shares the main functions of the organisation, who it works with and how it can help firms of all sizes be climate conscious.

The climate and nature crises are impacting all areas of society. Reducing carbon emissions is a crucial undertaking, not only to mitigate the effects of climate change, but for businesses to remain competitive and sustainable in the long term. The LSA aims to inspire, inform and equip law firms to measure, monitor and reduce their own carbon impact as well as upskilling colleagues to support their clients as they navigate this complex landscape.

Catering for over 130 member firms of varying sizes, with offices spanning the globe, the LSA runs a comprehensive programme of events, communications and resources to inform members about regulatory developments, share best practice and tackle the barriers to decarbonisation.

“I see climate change action as a little bit like a peloton in the Tour de France. There is a group at the front who are pushing ahead and a group at the back who are falling away. The real challenge for the profession as a whole, is to keep the whole peloton together, to move together to create climate action that is impactful and effective.”

Paddy Linighan, Director of the LSA and Chief Sustainability Officer, Clyde & Co.

The LSA works with the Law Societies of England, Wales and Scotland, as well as partner organisations including UKELA, ELF, One Million Hours, Bar Sustainability Network and Law Sustainability Network in America. We operate on the principle that if we work together, we will get to net zero faster.

The network aims to be a one stop shop for help and advice, keeping members up to date with best practice in our bulletins and on the website. Firms can access bespoke support via the LSA manager, Camilla, who can also connect firms to share experiences and advice when appropriate. In addition, the LSA is hosting active working groups exploring issues facing firms in more depth, such as regulatory frameworks and the challenge of business travel. These groups are writing useful practice guides which will be made available to LSA members before the end of the year.

Whether it’s policy updates, workplaces or technology innovation, the climate crisis touches all areas of the legal sector and there’s lots of ways you can get involved to help. The LSA is currently running a series called The Green Brief – Practical Guides for Law Firms. These recorded sessions aim to unpick some of the nuts and bolts of getting to net zero and (so far) cover the sustainable development goals (SDGs), getting ready to count your carbon footprint, and regulatory frameworks. The network also explores the wider context for the legal sector, for example; Labour’s 100 Days - What does it mean for policy? During this virtual session, two policy experts explored what the first 100 days of the new government meant for law firms and their responsible business agenda. There is also an exciting event in the pipeline sharing some of the new tech aimed at reducing emissions in the office, with firms sharing useful insights into what worked for them and what didn’t.

Reducing your climate impact can, in practice, be achievable by all firms, of all sizes.

If you are struggling to get to grips with what you can do to help or need practical advice from those already on their sustainability journey, do come along to our free workshop on 7 November. It’s by no means something you need to do on your own; the more we can learn from each other, the quicker we can reach net zero.

Anyone interested in joining the LSA should contact Camilla on manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com. More information on our memberships can be found here.