I am Principal of Jake McKinley and CEO of Humans United By Law. I have 15 years’ experience across litigation, commercial, property and family law, and hold BA, LLB and LLM (Sydney). I run a boutique Sydney practice of 16 staff and want the Law Society to focus on the issues that affect the everyday practice of solicitors, particularly younger practitioners and women in the profession.

The most pressing issue for many firms is the cost of professional indemnity insurance. I support genuine choice in professional indemnity insurance. Members should be free to select from any insurer that offers a policy compliant with s 210 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law. A competitive market will encourage fairer premiums, broader coverage, and better service. Council should actively advocate for approval of compliant alternatives and ensure transparent comparisons of coverage, exclusions and claims processes with the existing monopoly policy. For many boutique and suburban practices, premiums now exceed $70,000 a year. Insurance should protect the public and the profession, not act as a barrier to growth. My commitment is to press for open, transparent approval processes and competitive choice that preserves Minimum Standards while delivering affordability.

Supporting women in law and creating genuine career pathways is another priority. Today, women make up almost two thirds of solicitors under 30, yet two thirds of principals and partners are still men. Billable hour targets continue to rise, workloads are intense, and many women leave the profession in their 30s and 40s when leadership opportunities should be opening. The Law Society must lead in setting the tone for a profession that is safe, inclusive and sustainable. I will press for practical measures to change workplace culture, including clear anti-bullying and harassment policies, independent reporting mechanisms, and continuous training for principals and managers.

I will also support structured mentoring and sponsorship programs for junior solicitors and women. These should include cross-firm mentoring, leadership pathways, and recognition of mentoring for CPD so those who invest in others are acknowledged. Mentoring is not just about skills; it is about sponsorship and advocacy. Too often women lawyers are mentored but not promoted. We need systems that link talent to leadership opportunities and ensure women are equitably briefed and supported in partnership candidacy. Council should also promote flexible working and practical parental leave policies that make returning to senior practice viable. The aim is not only entry into the profession but equal opportunity to remain, progress and lead.

Practical Legal Training (PLT) in its current form is widely criticised as too expensive, too online, and too detached from practice. Graduates often face fees of many thousands of dollars, plus unpaid placements of several months. This creates barriers for those without means and disadvantages community legal centres and small firms that rely on supervised practice. I support reform of PLT that lifts quality and reduces cost while keeping standards high. Practical training should begin earlier in law degrees and culminate in a short, intensive in-person capstone that tests core skills such as advocacy, client interviewing, and ethics. Relevant work experience during study — in paralegal roles, clinics or clerkships — should count towards the placement requirement. I support multiple accredited providers — universities, specialist bodies and firms — to deliver PLT units competitively, with transparent pricing and quality assurance. PLT reform must reduce financial barriers, improve access, and prepare graduates for diverse careers in private practice, government, corporate and community law.

I support responsible use of AI, backed by clear, court-aligned guidance for solicitors. My position is straightforward: efficiency tools are welcome, but accuracy, confidentiality and integrity are paramount. Verification-first practices should be mandatory for any AI-assisted research or drafting. Sensitive or privileged material must never be entered into public systems. Witness evidence must remain the witness’s own words and not be rephrased by a machine.

I will press for practical, scenario-based CPD on AI and cybersecurity. Solicitors need hands-on training in how to check citations, preserve privilege, manage metadata, and spot “hallucinations” before they reach a client or a court. The Law Society should provide vendor-neutral guidance, procurement support, and where possible group discounts for essential tools so boutique practices can keep pace with larger firms. Technology should reduce stress and cost, not create new risks.

Burnout remains high across the profession, with surveys showing nearly 70% of lawyers report stress levels that affect their practice. Sustainable workloads and respectful workplaces are not luxuries; they are essential to retention and client service. I support practical tools for principals on workload planning, after-hours expectations, and file handover. The Law Society’s outreach services must remain well funded and visible so that support is always close at hand.

Councillors are directors of a public company with significant assets and responsibilities. That role requires diligence, independence and judgment. I manage budgets, risk and people every day in practice. I will bring the same discipline to Council: thorough preparation, clear questions, evidence-based decisions, and an unwavering focus on member value. I will be accessible to members, and I will support plain-language communication from Council so solicitors can see what is being done on their behalf and hold us accountable.

My platform is practical, constructive and member-centred. I will keep the focus on securing choice in professional indemnity insurance, advancing women in law and creating equitable pathways to leadership, reforming PLT so it is affordable and effective, and guiding responsible adoption of AI and technology. These are the issues that solicitors tell me matter most. I will advocate for reforms that are fair, proportionate and simple to implement. I will listen to members across practice areas and firm sizes, and I will work with Council colleagues and management to deliver outcomes that solicitors can measure in their premiums, their career opportunities, and their daily practice.