Sat in the advocates canteen at the Old Bailey – the Central Criminal Court, I marvelled at the Lady Chief Justice – Dame Sue Carr, as she talked about a novel concept. Moral courage.
What is meant by moral courage, and how is it relevant to legal professionals?
The underlying premise of the Lady Chief Justice’s lecture, for the Kalisher Trust? Diversifying the criminal bar. However, the need to mobilise those from diverse and non-traditional backgrounds, is not unique to criminal law practice but legal practice overall.
The Rule of Law is the constitutional principle that underpins the legal profession. The act of applying the law equally and fairly to all, without being swayed by one’s pre-conceptions, environmental or moral influences.
It takes considerable moral courage to uphold the Rule of Law. However, how can the law be applied equally and fairly to all, if the legal profession is not representative of the society which it serves? If those seeking to enter the law, are not considered equally?
The Kalisher Trust lecture invited me to consider some of the resources available to facilitate the shift towards a profession which is accessible and inclusive to all. Motivating me to take a closer look at the support available to those from diverse backgrounds who are beginning their legal journey.
Below, I outline some key resources and programs available; in the hope that those who feel that a legal career is a far reach away, might equally be encouraged to consider law as a feasible and serious career option. Demonstrating what it really means to exercise moral courage and offer the profession the opportunity to embrace diversity of thought and experience, in a bid to deliver justice to all within our society.
Resources
The Freedom Law Clinic has embraced the introduction of the SQE and aims to transform traditional routes to law, whilst increasing accessibility to the profession.
The Freedom Law School delivers remote learning courses for students working towards the SQE1 and SQE2 exams. Not only are the FLS programs flexible, to fit around professional or personal commitments, the courses are exceptionally affordable in comparison to competitor law schools.
Furthermore, the Freedom Law Clinic’s teaching model is also unique. Students undertake real-life casework which can be counted as Qualifying Work Experience, whilst completing the courses offered by the school.
Not only is the Freedom Law Clinic an affordable route to the SQE, but it also equally equips students with industry experience. Fostering the necessary skills and confidence to qualify as a solicitor.
Aspiring Solicitors is all about ‘increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession’. The platform offers many valuable resources for those in need of guidance as to how to navigate the legal profession. Members have access to events, law fairs and work experience opportunities.
One of the platform’s principal resources is AS Aspire. A four-month coaching program for selected members, to attend specialised events and undergo employability coaching.
The program includes:
- Career strategy sessions;
- mock interviews;
- CV and application review;
- assessment centre preparation;
- the opportunity to attend specific firm open days and receive mentoring from a partner law firm or legal team.
The program runs from September to December.
GROW recruits legal professionals to act as mentors for aspiring solicitors. Students and graduates receive 6 months of personal guidance from their mentor.
The program aims to pair mentors and mentees, based on mutual commonalities. That may be an interest in working for the same firm, specialising in the same area of law, or coming from a similar background, for example, attending the same university.
Mentees will have a one-hour call per month with their mentor, to receive guidance on how to progress with their legal journeys; and more frequent email contact is available if so required by the mentee.
Mentors are not authorised to review applications, but to offer practical advice to help their mentee develop and succeed within their relevant area of interest.
The program has two application windows throughout the year in February and August.
The Student Lawyer Mentorship Scheme
The Student Lawyer has equally recognised the need for further diversity in the legal industry. The scheme offers successful applicants the benefit of a one-on-one mentor for the duration of one year. The scheme is offered to law and non-law students and recent graduates from underrepresented backgrounds.
Selected applicants are paired with a mentor working in a common practice area of interest, who will be available to give practical advice on how to enter the legal profession.
Under this scheme, each mentor is able to give feedback on legal applications and CVs, to help secure that much desired legal role.
The work of the Kalisher Trust is to mobilise young people from all backgrounds, to achieve success at the criminal bar. The Trust firmly believes that the bar should be representative of the society that it serves and therefore, helps young students foster the necessary skills to succeed at the bar.
The Trust also provides scholarships to those who might not otherwise be able to afford to pursue the route to becoming a barrister.
The Trust runs an expansive program, with a dedicated educational arm. The principal support available is offered through:
- University scholarships at master’s level;
- the opportunity to become an apprentice at the Old Bailey in London;
- legal internships;
- and an intensive advocacy course.
The Trust’s education team also enters schools to teach and mentor teenagers at the key age when they are considering their future careers and making important educational decisions.
Urban Lawyers works hard to offer key resources, events and training to young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
The charity works to educate people from marginalised groups about their legal rights; sparking an interest in the law and its importance. The charity also aims to tackle diversity issues in the legal profession by offering workshops, mentoring, coaching and many networking events.
A key feature of Urban Lawyers is that it has developed societies at universities across the UK, creating a community which champions change.
