Why the LLG Spring Conference 2026 matters more than ever

Local government lawyers and governance officers are practising in one of the most complex and fast‑moving environments the sector has seen in decades. The pressures — and opportunities — they face extend well beyond the delivery of legal services. Structural reform, financial stress, political volatility and rapidly evolving case law are reshaping the landscape in which local authorities operate. Lawyers need to understand law in context — how it interacts with organisational design, democratic change, public trust and the lived realities of the communities we serve.

The need for resilience has never been higher. Lawyers and governance professionals no longer operate at the margins of organisational transformation. They are central to it.

The Redesign Programme opens with a keynote focused on organisational redesign, resilience and professional authority in challenging times, setting the tone for a conference focused on realism, optimism and professionalism. Key sessions include:

• Local Government Reorganisation in Practice
  A panel session examining the employment, TUPE and equal pay implications of LGR, with a focus on the staff experience during disaggregation and transition.
• New Towns and Sustainable Communities
  Exploring how lawyers shape governance structures and planning agreements that support resilient, low‑carbon communities and sustainable development.
• Devolution in Practice
  A grounded discussion on devolution looks within a mayoral combined authority, examining opportunities and practical challenges for councils and communities.
• A structure for a new Standards Regime
• Making the most of Case Management Systems
  Particularly relevant for authorities preparing for or emerging from reorganisation, this session focuses on systems, data and operational readiness.

The Regulatory Change Programme focuses on some of the most significant areas of legal and regulatory change facing local authorities. Highlights include:

• The Future of Planning
  An in‑depth look at the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and what it means for the balance of decision‑making between central and local government.
• Procurement Changes: One Year On
  Insights into how contracting authorities adapt to the new procurement regime, with emphasis on lessons learned, compliance challenges and best practice.
• PFI Contract Expiry and Handback
  A session focused on the legal, commercial and practical issues faced at the end of long‑term PFI arrangements — and the opportunities presented by expiry.
• Modernising the Law in Practice
  What happens when outdated legislation, regulatory reform and inter‑authority friction collide, and what local government lawyers do about it?

Professional resilience is as important as technical competence. The Respect & Resilience Programme focuses on wellbeing, ethics, and careers. Sessions include:

• Managing the Vexatious Litigant
  Practical guidance on balancing access to justice with protecting staff time, wellbeing and managing increasing volumes of complaints and requests.
• Ethics for In‑House Lawyers
  A discussion of professional independence, integrity and accountability within complex organisational settings.
• Adapting to a New Political Administration
  A safe‑space conversation for those navigating changes in leadership, priorities and political culture.
• Supporting the Next Generation
  Tailored sessions on soft skills, career development and learning in an AI‑enabled legal environment, aimed primarily at junior lawyers.

Our online day, a week later, will reflect on the elections 2026, look at decarbonisation, Right to Review under the evolving standards regime, life after Mazur, and Data Subject Access requests.

Join the conversation with leading practitioners, policy thinkers and experts from across local government and the wider legal community. Whether you are navigating restructuring, advising on reform, topping up your legal skills, supporting democratic governance or building your own resilience and career, the programme is designed to meet you where you are — and help you move forward with confidence.

Our Conference is not just a training event, but a window onto the wider world.

Bursaries are available for Monitoring Officers.
To find out more, email membership@llg.org.uk.

To book click Spring Conference 2026

LLG Conference 2026: a space to reflect, connect and lead through change.

Deborah Evans

LLG CEO