The Junior National Law Conference came into being with the prime objective of providing a forum for junior lawyers in Sri Lanka to meet, exchange views, interact with each other and develop camaraderie and fellowship. Emphasis was specifically placed on catering to and addressing the needs of the junior members of the Bar and to create a platform whereby the junior lawyers would benefit from, both in the short term and in going forward in their respective careers.
The inaugural Junior National Law Conference was held at Hotel Eden, Beruwala on the 25th and 26th of November, 2000 with 154 participants. A special feature of the conference was that the Committee was permitted to design and use its own logo, separate from that of the Bar Association, and to use a timely theme for the Conference, which would be changed from year to year.
Given the success of the inaugural Junior National Law Conference the Junior Bar Committee decided that the Junior National Law Conference should become a permanent fixture in the calendar of the Bar Association. Since then the number of participants have increased considerably and the Junior National Law Conference has become the most important event for junior lawyers.
The Junior National Law Conference for the year 2017 was held from 29th of September – 1st of October 2017 at Amari, Galle. The theme of JNLC 2017 was “ad maiora- towards greater things” with emphasis being placed on “Redefining the role of the Lawyer to uphold the evolving needs of the society”. A total of 250 junior lawyers participated in the Conference.
The Junior National Law Conference 2018 was held from the 14th to the 16th of September 2018 at the hotel Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon, Hikkaduwa under the theme “Futurum Edificamus- we build the future” with the participation of more than 300 participants.
The Junior National Law Conference for the year 2019 was held at Blue Waters, Wadduwa on the 29th, 30th and 31st of December, 2019 unde the theme “A Changing Perspective.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic however, the Junior Bar Committee was unable to hold the Conference for the year 2020.