Seema Gill
Chair and Treasurer
“Having been on the SJLD committee for the last few years, I feel privileged to have been elected as Chair and look forward to building on the strong foundations we have with this exceptional team.”
Seema is a commercial property solicitor working within the Charity and Social Business Team at Russell-Cooke LLP. Prior to this, she worked at a Surrey based firm for 11 years.
Seema has been elected in the role of Chair this year, in addition to her existing position as Treasurer.
Alex Watson-Lee
Immediate Past Chair
“I enjoy working as part of a solid team and I know that the SJLD committee is a great example of this from the work that I have witnessed SJLD complete to date.”
Alex is a Private Wealth Disputes Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, having trained and qualified with a Top 100 UK law firm in 2023 before moving to CRS in 2024.
Joanna Earl
Vice Chair and Sponsorship Representative
“Every action makes a difference.”
Joanna is a trainee solicitor at Moore Barlow LLP due to qualify in September 2025 and has immersed herself in a number of charity roles and projects over the years. At school she volunteered at a community shop and was a Charity Prefect. At university she was Fundraising Officer for the Equestrian Society and organised pub quizzes, a Christmas and Spring charity dinner along with a sponsored walking challenge to raise money for that year’s chosen charity.
In addition, Joanna was on the Pro Bono Society committee at university, working specifically with penal reform charity The Howard League. She also volunteered at a Citizens Advice Bureau alongside her studies.
Lily Bohling
Secretary
Lily is a Trainee Solicitor due to qualify into Moore Barlow's Employment (Schools & Charities) team at the end of September 2025. As Secretary of the Committee, Lily assists with the administration for the Committee meetings.
Lily is passionate about being part of a community for aspiring and junior lawyers and is keen to support others on their way up to a career in law through her role in the Surrey Junior Lawyers Division
Bisma Hussain
Surrey Law Society Representative
"As an unregistered barrister, I am keen to reach out to those who are also choosing whether to be a barrister or a solicitor."
Bisma is a Trainee Solicitor at Blackfords LLP.
Amber Davis
Digital Marketing Representative
Amber is currently a trainee solicitor at Blackfords LLP in Woking. She recently graduated from the Open University and will be undertaking the LPC part time from September 2025.
Amber is our Digital Marketing Representative and is looking forward to helping the SJLD engage with more junior lawyers online, share updates, and showcase the many events that take place year-round.
Amber enjoys meeting other young professionals, sharing experiences, and helping create a network where members feel supported both professionally and personally, which motivated her to join the SJLD to foster connections with those on similar career paths.
Majeja Miah
Diversity and Inclusion Representative
Majeja is a Bengali Solicitor specialising in Public Child Care Law, having qualified in July 2024. With a strong commitment to advocacy and justice, she brings both lived experience and professional insight to her role as the Diversity and Inclusion Representative at SJLD.
Majeja is passionate about creating space for underrepresented voices in the legal profession and is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for junior lawyers across Surrey.
Bethany Chamberlain
Charity Representative
Bethany read Psychology and Criminology at University and subsequently completed her Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course before qualifying as a Solicitor at a local Surrey firm. Bethany joined Irwin Mitchell’s Private Client Advisory team in 2024.
Bethany is passionate about helping others and has volunteered in various volunteering roles within the UK and overseas. Bethany’s experiences and exposures to date have shaped her into the type of individual that is dedicated to making a difference.
Joe Lloyd-Perks
Events Representative
Joe is a residential property paralegal at Morr & Co Solicitors in Guildford and is currently studying for the SQE2 exams.
A strong believer in community and shameless lover of networking, as Events Representative Joe hopes to bring people together from all across Surrey, ensuring the division offers a safe space for junior and aspiring lawyers to connect, learn from one another and enjoy the early years of their careers to the full.
Tim MacFarlan
Events Representative
Tim is an immigration solicitor based in Woking. Before moving into law, he worked in journalism for nine years, including 18 months freelancing in Mexico as a foreign correspondent. Tim qualified via the SQE route and is always keen to hear from anyone looking to do the same, especially other career changers.
Erin Stockdale
Events Representative
Erin has recently joined ITV’s Media and Entertainment division where she gets to combine her love of all things media, television, and law. Having previously worked at Google and Samsung, she qualified as a solicitor at the beginning of 2025 via SQE.
Erin is keen to use her role on the committee to build connections between in-house lawyers and those in private practice, and is excited to organise opportunities for junior legal professionals across all sectors to collaborate, share experiences, and grow their networks.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Erin moved to Surrey in 2020 and continues to bring a little Belfast spirit (and accent!) to Surrey life.
Maysun Nawaz
Universities & Colleges Representative
“I remember very clearly the challenges of becoming a solicitor, be it getting a training contract, choosing a practice area - or even deciding whether law was the right career for me.
Having qualified into commercial disputes, I can see how the guidance and training I received at each stage still shape my decisions and practice. I thoroughly enjoy working in disputes, and already have had the opportunity to share this passion with work experience students at my firm, Dutton Gregory. It was interesting to hear of the misconceptions the students had about a career in law, and how even a conversation with a lawyer can help bring clarity to this.
I’m thrilled to be elected Universities and Colleges representative for the SJLD and looking forward to helping aspiring solicitors understand and prepare for professional life."
Linda Asare
National Junior Lawyer Division Representative
I am thrilled to be elected as the National Junior Lawyer Division Representative following my role as the 2024 Career Changer Representative at the Surrey Junior Lawyers Division. It is a great honour to continue to represent the Surrey Junior Lawyers Division.
Following studying GDL and LPC at the University of Law. I was successfully nominated as a Legal Talent in July 2023, currently working in a law firm that specializes in Mental Health. I have collaborated with the Law Society and the Director of Employability for University of Surrey School of Law in organising an event called Pathways to Law held in April 2024 on behalf of Surrey Junior Lawyers Division.
I am a part-time Specialist Advanced Nurse Practitioner. I was nominated as the Royal College of Nursing Deputy President in November 2024 to represent the voice of Nurses in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and internationally. Through my extensive legal experience in Media, Arbitration and Clinical Negligence Law at Walt Disney, Local Government, Boyes Turner, Helix and CEDR International Dispute Resolution, it is a great privilege to continue to pursue active role by representing Surrey Junior Lawyers Division.