PROGRAM
The 2026 Legal London program is under development. The agenda shown here represents our current planning and is expected to be updated periodically.
MCLE CREDIT: A Week in Legal London program offers participants the opportunity to complete 25 hours of MCLE through a combination of in-person MCLE credit hours and online CLE classes.
2026 Agenda At A Glance
| Sunday, April 19 | ||
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4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Welcome Reception and Program Orientation |
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| Monday, April 20 | ||
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Welcome at the Royal Courts of Justice Audience with the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr, who serves as the Head of the Judiciary of England and Wales and the President of the Courts of England and Wales. MCLE Session One Heritage, Two Systems: UK and US Legal Procedure Procedure is the operating system of the law. It determines who speaks first, what evidence is heard, how juries deliberate, and ultimately how justice is administered. Although the United States and the United Kingdom share a common-law heritage, their procedural systems have diverged significantly since 1776. This session begins with a text that once united both legal cultures: the 1773 fifth edition of Sir William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. That work sat on the desks of six lawyers of the Middle Temple who later crossed the Atlantic and became signatories to the Declaration of Independence. From this common intellectual starting point, we will examine how two nations built distinct courtroom procedures, advocacy traditions, and judicial practices from the same common-law foundation. This framework will help participants understand the differences they will observe firsthand during courtroom proceedings throughout the week. |
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Court Observations in Small Groups
Your evening is free |
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| Tuesday, April 21 | ||
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Court Observations in Small Groups
Your evening is free |
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| Wednesday, April 22 | ||
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Welcome at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Supreme Court hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional important affecting the whole population. We will be welcomed by the President of the Supreme Court, the Right Honourable Lord Reed of Allemuir. MCLE Session When Mental Disorder and Issues of Competency Meet the Law – Harmonizing Humanity and Justice Experts from the UK and California will unpack the mental health legal framework in both countries, including key differences in the legal systems. Judge Lise Buckingham and Dr. Joan Rutherford will walk the participants through the process of assessing capacity, legal options and potential outcomes in the UK using a case study. California conservatorship specialist Kim McGhee will address California competency issues, including how the law treats those with mental health issues and the legal challenges and changes resulting from the controversial Britney Spears case. Free Afternoon Reception and Moot Trial at Inner Temple From Blueprints to Barristers: A Battle Over London’s Skyline Join your California colleagues for a spirited Moot at the iconic Inner Temple. We’ll be joined by members of the English Bar as we debate a cross-Atlantic dispute. May the best side win! Guest Program participants are welcome to join this event. A dynamic Transatlantic Moot featuring two British high court justices, two American judges, two English barristers and two of our attendees, debating the following: A high-powered New York real estate developer with future political ambitions has purchased property and proposes to build a multi-storied (75 floors) luxury residential complex in the May Fair district of London. A group of neighbors calling themselves “Homeowners for Privacy” is challenging the development on the grounds that it will interfere with the privacy of their properties due to the height and location of the development. At issue is the application of the recent U.K. Supreme Court decision in Fearn and Others vs. Trustees of the Tate Gallery. |
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| Thursday, April 23 | ||
| Court Observations in Small Groups | ||
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MCLE Session and Networking Reception Two Legal Systems Walk Into a Bar A panel discussion between California attorneys and UK barristers. This program will provide attendees the opportunity to learn from practitioners in the areas of criminal, civil and family law as they compare the rules and procedures of practice between California and the UK. |
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| Friday, April 24 | ||
| Court Observations in Small Groups | ||
| Closing Reception and Dinner in the Peer’s Dining Room of the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster | ||
Please note: Due to the size of some of our court venues and limited access, not all individuals/groups will have the same experience throughout the week. The agenda is subject to change.
Learn more about A Week in Legal London from this article featured in California Litigation magazine.
