2025
Monday, 13 October 2025 - Annual General Meeting (AGM)
We plan to hold our AGM online at 19:00 on Monday, 13 October 2025.
Tuesday, 30 September 2025 - Speaking anytime, anywhere workshop
Jennifer MacKay of Jump Training will lead an interactive workshop for SoVIL members on speaking and presentation skills.
The event is from 18:00 to 20:30 on Thursday, 30 September 2025, and takes place at the London office of Freshfields.
This is a great opportunity for
SoVIL
members to practice their speaking and presentation skills in a safe space with other visually impaired lawyers and to get feedback on their presentation style, body language, and use of their voice.
Sunday 6 July 2025 - Seminar on Artificial Intelligence
On Sunday 6 July 2025, SoVIL members joined a hybrid event that was streamed live from a conference by the American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys.
The seminar was on the uses of Artificial Intelligence in legal practice and the use of Artificial Intelligence by visually impaired lawyers.
Thursday, 12 June 2025 - Advocacy and litigation panel event
On Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 18:30, we held an online event in which a panel of visually impaired lawyers explained their experience of working in advocacy and litigation.
They discussed challenges faced and the adjustments they use to enable them to work in these fields.
Wednesday, 9 April 2025 - Transactional law panel event
On Wednesday, 9 April 2025, we held an online event in which a panel of visually impaired lawyers explained their experience of working in transactional and advisory fields in private practice and in-house.
They discussed challenges faced and the adjustments they used to enable them to work in these fields.
The panel was chaired by Riyaz Hazi (in-house legal counsel at BUPA and a
SoVIL
trustee), and panel members included Fadeia Hossian (Clifford Chance), Lauren Jackson (Freshfields), Ryan Bowers (in-house counsel), and Daisy Robson-Odugbemi (Linklaters).
2024
Friday, 6 December 2024 - Supreme Court tour
Some SoVIL members and their companions had a private group tour of the Supreme Court at 15:00 on Friday, 6 December 2024.
Some of us met for lunch beforehand in the café in the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, 27 November 2024 - Annual General Meeting (AGM) and special general meeting
Our AGM took place online at 19:00 on Wednesday, 27 November 2024.
We received approval from the Charity Commission for our application to register as a small charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) shortly before the AGM, so we called a special general meeting that decided to dissolve the SoVIL unincorporated association in favour of reconstituting as a CIO.
Saturday, 28 September 2024 - Thames boat trip and Greenwich lunch
22 SoVIL members and guests joined a Thames boat trip with audio commentary of some London landmarks. Afterwards, many of us had lunch at the historic Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich.
February 2024 - Virtual coffee catch-ups
In February 2024, we launched our series of virtual coffee catch-ups. Most months, we invite SoVIL members to express an interest in catching up online with another SoVIL member. We match members together so that members have the opportunity to get to know a range of other members with different experience in the legal profession.
Thursday, 25 January 2024 - Informal drinks
SoVIL members met for informal drinks on Thursday, 25 January 2024 at Cahoots bar, 13 Kingly Court, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW.
2023
Saturday, 2 December 2023 - Brunch and AGM
After brunch at Paradise Green, Bishopsgate, London at 11:30 on Saturday, 2 December 2023, our AGM took place at 14:00 at Freshfields, 100 Bishopsgate, London, EC2P 2SR.
Tuesday, 7 November 2023 - Dinner following London Sight Village exhibition
The London sight village technology exhibition took place on Tuesday, 7 November 2023. SoVIL members and guests met for dinner on the evening after the exhibition at the nearby Kensington Quarter restaurant (193 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6SH).
Thursday, 12 October 2023 - Online panel event for student members
On Thursday, 12 October 2023, we held an online event aimed at students applying for training contracts or pupillage.
Adal Ibrar (Chair of SoVIL) was joined by a panel of speakers: Michael Kotrly of 1 Essex Court, Jess Brown of Inner Temple, and Jakob Sexton from Freshfields.
Topics covered included the application process for training contracts and pupillage, scholarships and facilities available for visually impaired students through the Inns of Court, disclosing a visual impairment, and requesting reasonable adjustments.
Our thanks go to the panel of speakers for participating.
Tuesday, 23 May 2023 - Online workshop on interviews and networking tips
On Tuesday, 23 May 2023, Jennifer MacKay of Jump Training and Development ran an online workshop for SoVIL members focusing on tips for interviews and networking events.
Topics covered included:
- Projecting confidence: being engaged and connecting with others (eye contact, voice, body language)
- Answering questions: structuring your answer, providing examples or evidence, buying time
- What to do if you don't understand the question, forgot what the question was, or feel like you haven't given a good enough answer
- Show the value you add: what do you bring to the table
- Little things that can make a big difference: making small talk, asking them questions.
Thank you to Jennifer for running this workshop for us.
2021
Saturday, 11 December 2021 - AGM, lunch, and afternoon talk
Our AGM took place in hybrid format on Saturday, 11 December 2021 at Dentons, 1 Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7RA.
The meeting was followed by lunch and an afternoon talk by Kelvin Duncan from Blazie Engineering, David Viner, and Mat Johnson on making the best of LinkedIn and using Twitter as a visually impaired lawyer.
Tuesday, 29 November 2019 - Building resilience workshop
Jennifer McKay of Jump Training led a workshop on building resilience for SoVIL members. The workshop took place online on Tuesday, 9 November 2021.
Thursday, 25 February 2021 - AGM
Our AGM took place online at 19:00 on Thursday, 25 February 2021.
We started the evening with a guest speaker, Peter Fish, the Interim Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department.
We followed this with our AGM and a discussion of potential activities for this year.
2019
Sunday 9 June 2019 - Kew Gardens sensory tour
We met for a sensory tour at Kew Gardens on Sunday 9 June 2019.
Saturday, 9 February 2019 - London lunch
Our London lunch took place on Saturday, 9 February 2019 at 13:00 at the Ivy Market Grill, 1 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8PS.
Tuesday, 29 January 2019 - Building resilience workshop
Jennifer McKay of Jump Training led a workshop on building resilience for SoVIL members. The workshop took place by telephone on Tuesday, 29 January 2019.
2018
Saturday, 1 December 2018 - AGM and lunch
Our AGM took place at 11:30 on Saturday, 1 December 2018 at Freshfields, 65 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1HT.
The meeting was followed by lunch at 13:00 and a workshop at 14:00.
The workshop was led by Jeremy Browne and included tips for confidence building in advocacy, meetings, public speaking, and other scenarios.
Friday, 16 March 2018 - London dinner
Our London dinner took place at 19:30 on Friday, 16 March 2018 at the Oyster Shed.
Tuesday, 16 January 2018 - Presentation skills training, London
Jennifer McKay of Jump Training led a workshop on presentation skills and public speaking for SoVIL members on Tuesday, 16 January 2018. It was suitable for people with any level of public-speaking experience - from law students and young professionals attending interviews to senior members of the profession. We are grateful to CMS for hosting the event.
2016
Saturday, 10 December 2016 - Guided tour of the British Museum, AGM, and lunch
Our lunch and AGM took place at 12:00 on Saturday, 10 December 2016 at The office of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Judd Street, London.
The meeting was preceded by guided tours of the Egyptology Gallery at the British Museum at 10:00 and 10:15, lasting approximately 1.25 hours.
The meeting was followed by drinks at the Skinner's Arms on Judd Street.
Friday, 29 January 2016 - Speed interviewing event
This joint event between SoVIL and Blind in Business gave visually impaired students, graduates, and practitioners seeking a new job the opportunity to practice interview skills with graduate recruiters from leading law firms.
There was also some time at the end of the event to network with the recruiters and fellow candidates.
The event was from 18:00 to 21:00 on Friday, 29 January 2016 at the offices of Freshfields, 65 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1HT.
2014
Friday, 21 November 2014 - Autumn dinner
Our Autumn dinner took place at 19:00 on Friday, 21 November 2014 at the Prince of Wales Feathers, Warren Street, London.
Saturday, 6 September 2014 - AGM and lunch
Our AGM took place at 11:00 on Saturday, 6 September 2014 at the office of the RNIB, Judd Street, London.
The meeting was followed by lunch and a discussion about potential training workshops for members.
2013
Thursday, 21 November 2013 - Dinner
Our Autumn dinner took place at 19:00 on Thursday, 21 November 2013 at the Prince of Wales Feathers, Warren Street, London.
Saturday, 8 June 2013 - AGM and lunch
Our AGM took place at 11:00 on Saturday, 8 June 2013 at the office of the RNIB, Judd Street, London.
The meeting was followed by lunch and a talk by Lord Colin Lowe.
Friday, 26 April 2013 - Tour of the House of Lords
SoVIL members and their guests enjoyed a guided tour of the House of Lords late afternoon on Friday, 26 April 2013.
2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012 - AGM and lunch
Our AGM took place on Saturday, 9 June 2012 at the office of the RNIB, Judd Street, London.
The main topics of discussion were social events for the coming year and progress on updating SoVIL's website.
The meeting was followed by lunch and a discussion on methods of accessing texts and other information available to the legal profession.
Friday, 23 March 2012 - Afternoon tea at the House of Lords
On Friday, 23 March 2012, 21 SoVIL members and their guests joined Lord Low of Dalston for a traditional afternoon tea in the Atlee Room in the House of Lords.
This provided a good opportunity for members to meet and network whilst enjoying an excellent tea in a historical building.
Lord Low welcomed SoVIL members and gave a short introduction to the history of the House of Lords.
Thanks go to Lord Low for hosting this event.
2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011 - Autumn lunch
On Saturday, 26 November 2011, a group of SoVIL members and their guests met at the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for a 3 course meal of salmon and winter vegetable salad, loin of venison, and chocolate mousse.
Thanks to Freshfields for hosting this lunch at their offices and to their staff, who were extremely hospitable.
Saturday, 7 May 2011 - AGM and lunch
Our AGM took place on Saturday, 7 May 2011 at the office of the RNIB, Judd Street, London.
The meeting was followed by lunch and a talk by John Lafferty, former SoVIL member, on his work as a circuit judge.