{"id":2936,"date":"2024-07-03T10:52:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T09:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/klsemployability\/?page_id=2936"},"modified":"2024-09-11T12:26:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T11:26:33","slug":"diversity-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/diversity-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

The legal profession is becoming more diverse and there are a growing number of opportunities for students to connect with lawyers and law firms. The listing below aims to detail organisations that have a diversity agenda and are committed to helping university students\u00a0 who are BAME, LGBT+, disabled\/with long term health issues or seeking social mobility to access legal* careers. (Please note, <\/em>we have not listed organisations which work with school age students so, there may be things you think are missing such as Prime but this is deliberate.)<\/em>
\nWhilst the organisations listed here all offer wonderful support you must be proactive in seeking out the opportunities available, put yourself forward and maintain contact. If you do this, the organisations will help to make your career journey into law easier but they will not be able to do all the chasing – you need to engage!<\/em><\/p>\n

The list is compiled of organisations known to us that help students into legal careers. It is not a comprehensive list. Additionally, some organisations help with wider careers (usually in the city of London). As such, you will find references to other careers in the information below but it is important to note that this list has NOT attempted to detail organisations offering support in non-legal careers.<\/p>\n

If you come across an opportunity please email careerhelp@kent.ac.uk<\/p>\n

Note: – Mentoring Schemes – if you want a mentor you will also find mentoring schemes listed on the mentoring tab above.\u00a0 https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/mentoring\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Other Resources<\/strong>:\u00a0 \u00a0AllAboutLaw <\/strong><\/a>has fabulous webpages on all things related to diversity in the legal profession including podcasts, vlogs, events, and courses.<\/p>\n

Which scheme is for me?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

All organisations are listed alphabetically. Some organisations offer support in more than one area of diversity. As such, this list is simply a guide to which organisations to look at for each diversity area.<\/p>\n

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

1 Crown Office Row
\nAllAboutLaw Diversity
\nAspiring Solicitors
\nBlack Solicitors’ Network (BSN)
\nBME Legal
\nBridging the Bar
\nFreshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme
\nGovernment Diversity Summer Scheme
\nHerbert Smith Freehills Roger Leyland Memorial Scholarships
\nInterLaw Diversity Forum
\nKLS Professional Mentoring Scheme
\nLaw Firms Diversity & Inclusion
\nLinklaters Making Links Scholarships Programme
\nLondon Young Lawyers Group (LYLG)
\nRare Recruitment
\nSociety of Asian Lawyers
\nSponsors for Educational Opportunity \/ SEO London
\nWindsor Fellowship
\nVantage<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Social Mobility<\/strong><\/h4>\n

1 Crown Office Row
\nAllAboutLaw Diversity
\nAspiring Solicitors
\nBlack Lawyers\u2019 Directory (BLD)
\nCity Solicitors Horizons
\nGovernment Diversity Summer Scheme
\nGuru Nanak social mobility scholarship
\nInterLaw Diversity Forum
\nThe Kalisher Trust
\nKLS Professional Mentoring Scheme
\nLaw City
\nLaw Firms Diversity & Inclusion
\nLinklaters Making Links Scholarships Programme
\nLondon Young Lawyers Group (LYLG)
\nNew Square Chambers
\nPegasus Access and Support Scheme
\nRare Recruitment
\nRopes & Gray, BRidge to the City (see the listing below under “Law Firms”)
\nSocial Mobility Foundation
\nSponsors for Educational Opportunity \/ SEO London
\nSutton Trust Pathways to Law
\nUpReach
\nUrban Lawyers
\nVantage
\nZero Gravity<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disabled & long term health conditions<\/strong><\/h4>\n

AllAboutLaw Diversity
\n<\/strong>Aspiring Solicitors
\nCITY DISABILITES
\nEmployAbility
\nGovernment Diversity Summer Scheme
\nInterLaw Diversity Forum
\nKLS Professional Mentoring Scheme
\nLawCare
\nLaw Firms Diversity & Inclusion
\nLaw Society Disability Solicitors Network
\nLegalnable
\nLinklaters Making Links Scholarships Programme
\nLondon Young Lawyers Group (LYLG)
\nMyPlusStudentsClub
\nShaw Trust
\nThe Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LGBTQ+<\/strong><\/h4>\n

AllAboutLaw Diversity
\nAspiring Solicitors
\nDiversCity in Law
\nGovernment Diversity Summer Scheme
\nInterLaw Diversity Forum
\nKLS Professional Mentoring Scheme
\nLaw Firms Diversity & Inclusion
\nLondon Young Lawyers Group (LYLG)
\nLGBT Lawyers Division (for qualified lawyers)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For Professionals (all inclusive)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The organisations here may require you to be a lawyer but they are included so that you can see that there is on-going support once qualified:<\/p>\n

Black Solicitors’ Network (BSN)
\nLawCare
\nLaw Firms Diversity & Inclusion
\nLondon Young Lawyers Group (LYLG)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Financial Support<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

We\u2019ve only included a few things here as there is so much more out there.
\nAspiringSolicitors
\nInns of Court BPTC Scholarships
\nLPC scholarships
\nThe Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme (DAS)
\nThe Kalisher Trust<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mature Students<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Kalisher Trust
\nLater on Lawyers<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE ORGANISATIONS:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

1 Crown Office Row <\/b><\/p>\n

1COR offers an assessed mini-pupillage scheme targeted at socio-economically disadvantaged applicants, which guaranteed a first-round interview for pupillage to those applicants who performed well in their assessments. The assessed mini-pupillage scheme will run between June and July and provides a bursary of \u00a3150 + expenses of \u00a3150.
\nThe scheme is open to applicants who meet the criteria which includes: attended a state school or college, able to demonstrate high academic achievement, and in at least your second year of university or a graduate. \u00a0 Women and applicants from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are particularly encouraged to apply. \u00a0 Applications may be submitted between November and March.
\nFind out more here – https:\/\/www.1cor.com\/london\/assessed-mini-pupillage\/\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

AllAboutLaw Diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n

AllAboutLaw Diversity, <\/em><\/strong>the diversity programme for students from underrepresented groups is open to everyone from those communities<\/strong>. The course is free<\/strong> and is over a number of weeks.\u00a0 \u00a0These are the programmes on offer: Black Heritage \/ Asian and Minority Ethnic Heritage \/ LGBTQ+ \/ Social mobility \/ Disabled.\u00a0 Each programme has different speakers from a range of legal backgrounds. Find out more and sign-up here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.allaboutlaw.co.uk\/diversity\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Aspiring Solicitors:<\/strong>
\nThe primary aim of Aspiring Solicitors is to increase diversity in the legal profession. Aspiring solicitors work with over 26 law firms and legal teams to provide events, mentoring, competitions, employability assistance and access to the legal profession. In the past students have been offered training contracts and vacation schemes through the help of Aspiring solicitors. They will support you in all areas that this directory covers.\u00a0 AS organises an annual commercial awareness competition, work experience opportunities, workshops, mentoring and scholarships.\u00a0 \u00a0To find out more, please see the website where you are also able to sign up for their free monthly e-newsletter detailing the opportunities available.
\nwww.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Aspiring Solicitors offers a Diversity Directory<\/u> \u2013 this is a fantastic opportunity for students to speak to a trainee, associate, senior associate, paralegal, or partner and ask any questions they may have about their career path, firm or generally developing a connection with someone in the legal profession. AS members should go to\u00a0https:\/\/www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk\/professional-ambassadors\/<\/a>\u00a0where they can search for someone based on the diversity strand or by law firm.<\/p>\n

Black Solicitor’s Network
\n<\/strong>This is the primary representative body in England and Wales for black solicitors; its focus is the equality of access, retention and promotion of black solicitors. There is a student mentoring and training sub-committee which seeks to help student members develop their legal careers. BSN has developed and regularly hosts, in conjunction with leading firms (BBC, Jones Day, Hogan Lovells), interactive Career Workshops for undergraduate and graduate BSN members which provide insights into the recruitment process and tailored advice on applying for training contracts.<\/p>\n

www.blacksolicitorsnetwork.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

BME Legal<\/strong><\/p>\n

BME Legal is a committee made up of law students and pupil barristers, advisers and ambassadors who are all practising barristers and partner chambers who sponsor our events.\u00a0 The aim of the group is to increase diversity at the Bar. \u00a0 They offer two programmes: Intensive Support Programme (a series of professional workshops focused on pupillage applications, mock interviews and other key areas of professional development and mentoring); and a Scholarship Success Programme (for those who have an upcoming scholarship interview at one of the four Inns of Court). Additionally, BME Legal are always on the lookout for ambitious, driven and capable law students to join the committee and develop their leadership and communication skills, among others. There are a variety of roles and the team are really friendly.
\nFor more information email bmelegal@outlook.com<\/a><\/p>\n

BRIDGING THE BAR<\/b>
\nOffers a mini-pupillage programme exclusively for aspiring barristers from underrepresented groups, with a range of chambers on board to join their flagship scheme. For more information on their work and to apply for the scheme, visit\u00a0www.bridgingthebar.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

CITY DISABILITES<\/strong>
\nA free mentoring scheme for professionals and students with disabilities or long term medical conditions, who would like to join a profession in London. Their aim is to make the City a fairer, more human place for people with disabilities to pursue a career.
\nAll of the mentors either have disabilities or medical conditions, or support colleagues who have them. They include lawyers, bankers, accountants, PAs, civil servants, consultants and more. They will mentor all types of disability, relating to both physical and mental health. They also work with employers to improve disability awareness.
\nThe mentoring scheme for entrants to the City will support you through the process of job applications, interviews and beyond.
\nhttp:\/\/citydisabilities.org.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n

City Solicitors Horizons<\/strong>
\nCSH is an initiative to improve access to the legal profession for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is a programme within SEO London organisation. Each intake will benefit from a 3 \u2013year programme of comprehensive classroom and one-to-one training sessions, mentoring from lawyers, and work experience from sponsoring firms. There are eligibility conditions to fulfil (relating to state-education\/commitment to the legal profession and potential).
\nApplications open in September each year. Check website for closing date.
\nhttp:\/\/www.citysolicitorshorizons.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

DiversCity in Law<\/strong>
\nDiversCity is a unique recruitment event aimed at raising awareness of pursuing a legal career in the City amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students at degree and postgraduate level. With the slogan \u2018Now you are out, let us help you get in\u2019 the DiversCity initiative aims to:<\/p>\n