AAI Advocacy Programme
London • June to July 2027
Limited places. Apply early.
Tradition.
Integrity.
Innovation.
The future of advocacy begins here.
AAI Summer
Programme 2027
London • June to July 2027
An immersive advocacy programme at the English Bar
Get our prospectusWhat to Expect.
The AAI Summer Programme is a five-day, London-based programme offering aspiring advocates direct exposure to the English Bar.
Participants train with practising barristers and legal professionals, engage with real advocacy exercises, and explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern legal practice, all within the historic institutions at the heart of the UK legal system.
Real barristers.
Real cases.
Real London.
Delivered at London’s historic Inns of Court and led by practising UK barristers and legal professionals, AAI places participants inside the professional world of the English Bar.
A Conversation with the Law
Michael Mansfield KC is one of the United Kingdom’s most respected human rights barristers, with a career spanning decades at the forefront of public interest law. He has been involved in some of the most significant and complex cases in modern British legal history, including matters concerning civil liberties, state accountability, and access to justice. His work reflects a longstanding commitment to the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
Alongside his legal practice, he has been a consistent advocate for raising awareness around mental health and wellbeing. He is a founder of SOS Silence of Suicide, a charity dedicated to encouraging open and honest conversations and preventing suicide.
Within the programme, Michael Mansfield KC will contribute to a series of conversations with participants focused on navigating the realities of legal practice, with particular emphasis on mental health, resilience, and wellbeing. His sessions will create space for open discussion around the pressures of the profession, addressing themes such as self doubt, imposter syndrome, and sustaining a sense of purpose in demanding environments.
Drawing on both his professional experience and wider perspective, his contribution will support participants not only in developing as advocates, but in finding a balanced and sustainable path within the law.
Overview
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Designed with Purpose
A considered approach to advocacy training
Legal education rarely shows students what advocacy actually looks like in practice.
AAI bridges that gap by combining classical advocacy training with contemporary legal realities: courtroom culture, professional expectations, and the growing role of technology in legal reasoning and preparation.
This is not a lecture series. It is a working immersion.
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Location
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London.
The programme is held in London, with teaching and practical sessions hosted at the Inns of Court, placing participants inside the institutional and cultural centre of the English Bar.
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Academic Leadership
Professor Can Eken leads the programme’s AI Ethics in Advocacy module, drawing on his research in international dispute resolution, arbitration, and professional judgment.
His teaching explores the ethical limits of AI-assisted advocacy, with particular attention to decision-making, responsibility, and the enduring role of human judgment in professional legal practice.
Professor Eken leads the design and delivery of the programme, developing its modules and ensuring academic rigour across all components.
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Paid Internship Opportunity
Participants may apply separately for a twelve-week paid internship
Outstanding participants may apply separately for a paid twelve-week internship with a boutique London commercial law firm.
The internship offers hands-on exposure to professional legal practice, alongside structured training and dedicated mentorship.
Internship awards are made at AAI’s discretion and may be granted to one or more candidates.
The internship opportunity is open exclusively to participants of the AAI Summer Programme upon successful completion of the programme. The internship is not guaranteed and is subject to a separate application and selection process.
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Who the Programme is for
- Law graduates and early-career legal professionals considering advocacy
- Participants seeking exposure to international legal practice
- Candidates interested in the intersection of law, ethics, and technology