Browne Jacobson is piloting its first mentoring programme aimed at kick-starting the careers of aspiring Black lawyers across the country.
Browne Jacobson is piloting its first mentoring programme aimed at kick-starting the careers of aspiring Black lawyers across the country.
Under the initiative 13 mentees will have access to six months of 1:1 mentoring by lawyer members of its REACH community, with the option to extend for a further three months. The programme will also offer two weeks paid work experience at one of the firm’s five UK offices, and access to a series of bespoke masterclasses on brand, routes into law and meeting client expectations.
The national law firm has collaborated with a number of local organisations that have extensive experience of working with a largely Black student population to launch its REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Black Mentoring Scheme.
The organisations include:
Improving diversity and inclusion is a key strategic priority for Browne Jacobson as it looks to further increase diversity at all levels within the firm and across the legal sector.
Bridget Tatham, partner at Browne Jacobson and one of the architects of the scheme, said:
"Black people are disproportionately underrepresented in the legal profession, particularly in senior roles and we are committed to playing our part to change the landscape.
"The REACH Mentoring Scheme is just one of the programmes we are co-creating with our REACH community, to increase representation of Black talent at all levels across the firm.
"The REACH Mentoring Scheme is a programme, which incorporates paid for work experience and 6 months mentoring, with the aim of supporting and developing the next generation of talented Black lawyers.
"Ultimately, we are not only looking to positively impact early careers, but also the aim is to improve the retention and promotion of Black lawyers across all areas of our business and the wider legal market.
"What is fantastic about the scheme is that we have engaged with our REACH community and partnered with charities and educational institutions who are working with talented and underrepresented students, to make sure that the programme works and benefits Black aspiring lawyers of the future."
Tom Lyas, Recruitment Manager at Browne Jacobson, added: “This latest initiative complements a wide range of initiatives we have in place as part of our commitment to increase diversity at the firm.
"As well as allowing students to experience first-hand what it is like to work in the legal profession, the scheme will also help us to develop another crucial talent pipeline of exceptional young trainees for the future."
Browne Jacobson’s commitment to promoting greater diversity and inclusion in the legal profession is nationally recognised. Its innovative approach is spearheaded by its award-winning FAIRE programme, one of the UK’s largest social mobility schemes for the legal profession.
UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has won the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the 23rd Franco-British Business Awards 2022.
Browne Jacobson has partnered with Forage, one of the world’s leading work experience platforms, to launch an interactive virtual work experience programme to open up access for aspiring young lawyers and improve diversity in the legal profession.
Holly Quirk, an associate barrister in Browne Jacobson’s Manchester office, was awarded the Legal Professional of the Year Award at this year’s Manchester Young Talent Awards.
Browne Jacobson has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading law firms with its ranking in The Times “Best Law Firms 2023”. This is the fifth year that Browne Jacobson has been ranked.
Browne Jacobson’s corporate finance lawyers are celebrating after two of its deals won major awards at the Insider Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2022.
Law firm Browne Jacobson has confirmed its commitment as a Real Living Wage employer by implementing the Living Wage Foundation’s newly announced rates with immediate effect to help offset the cost of living crisis for low paid workers.
Browne Jacobson has welcomed 10 future lawyers to its trainee scheme for 2022 – 2024 as it continues to grow its business. The new recruits have joined 36 trainees currently at the firm, bringing the total number of trainee solicitors at Browne Jacobson to 46 – a record number for the firm.
Browne Jacobson has bolstered its commercial practice in the UK with the appointment of commercial contracts and international trade specialist, Emma Roake, into its City-based London team.
Browne Jacobson’s private client practice has been ranked as Band One in the 2022 Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide for its work in private wealth law.
Bridget Tatham, a specialist defendant insurance lawyer at Browne Jacobson has been honoured at this year’s Birmingham Black Lawyer (BBL) Excellence Awards, having been named Lawyer of the Year. Bridget was also shortlisted for BBL’s Diversity Champion 2022.
Browne Jacobson has expanded its Manchester professional indemnity practice by recruiting a seven person team led by Jason Nash and supported by partner Michael Appleby. Jason joined Browne Jacobson last month ahead of the other members of the team.
Browne Jacobson has announced its financial results for 2021-22 with revenues up 11 per cent year-on-year to £94m, up from £85m. It marks the 13th consecutive year of growth with a 59 per cent increase in revenues since 2015 (£59m).
Today, (Thursday 16 June) 18 trainee lawyers from Browne Jacobson began the second of three planned “going green” fundraising challenges which focus on driving positive change to the environment and will raise essential funds for the firm’s charity partners.
On Saturday 14th May, 17 Browne Jacobson trainees walked 24 miles around the three highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales to raise money for our five office charities.
A lawyer and a HR business partner from law firm Browne Jacobson have been announced as winners of the WeAreTheCity’s Rising Stars Awards 2022.
National law firm Browne Jacobson has launched an electric vehicle (EV) scheme as part of its employee benefits package. The benefit will be available to all of the firm’s employees across its five offices, including Birmingham, Exeter, London, Manchester, and Nottingham.
Browne Jacobson’s trainee lawyers are gearing up for the first of three outdoor fundraising challenges that will begin this weekend (Saturday 14 May), with the aim of driving positive change to the environment and raising funds for the firm’s charity partners.
National law firm Browne Jacobson has announced it has promoted 31 lawyers across the business, including six new partners, two legal directors and 23 Senior Associates, a record number for the firm.
Browne Jacobson is celebrating after two of its Nottingham based lawyers won top accolades at the recent Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards.
Browne Jacobson is continuing with its efforts to address fairer access and diversity within the legal profession, with the appointment of six work experience students who are currently part of the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme (DAS)
This article is intended to start a discussion on the International Men’s Day UK themes.
Having initially experienced a glimpse of the firm’s inclusivity during a University mentoring BAME scheme, I am pleased to have experienced that Browne Jacobson’s friendly and inclusive culture is the firm’s “beating heart”.
Like most law students, trainees and new starters, it was all virtual for us on the 2021 Browne Jacobson vacation scheme. 2020’s scheme had been cancelled so we were the first virtual cohort, mostly attending from our homes.
From the outset, I was drawn to Browne Jacobson for the variety and quality of work undertaken, the inherently friendly culture and the responsibility handed to trainees at an early stage in their contract.
I’m a vacation schemer at Browne Jacobson – how exciting is it to write that? I’ve been having a fascinating and exciting time seeing everything I’ve learnt in my LLB course put into practice- and quite a lot more besides!
My experience has been hugely positive. Every person I have spoken to, whether a partner, associate, or trainee, has been incredibly welcoming and supportive.
Our 2021 virtual Vacation Scheme is fully underway. Here, our first student Lavania Xavier Rajan gives her impressions of working at Browne Jacobson.
Embracing self-care is our focus for Mental Health Awareness Week this year. As we return to what we have longingly referred to as “normal”, we encourage you to prioritise self-care, connect with nature and talk with someone about any theme related mental health.
During lockdown many of the Browne Jacobson trainees have been finding solace in bingeworthy TV with inspirational LGBTQ+ characters and storylines.
Starting our first seats as a trainee during lockdown has been a bit of a strange experience. As our cohort started our training contracts virtually, some of us have yet to go into the office and most bizarrely, we’ve not yet met face to face as a group.