Welsh Government welcomes students to the Senedd as it supports Browne Jacobson’s FAIRE social mobility programme

Six law students got a taste of life as a lawyer inside government and the Senedd as the Welsh Government took part in an innovative Browne Jacobson social mobility programme.

They spent a day with the Welsh Government during a week-long work experience placement at the UK and Ireland law firm’s Cardiff office, and visited the Senedd with government staff.

Browne Jacobson arranged the visit in partnership with the Welsh Government, a longstanding client, as part of its award-winning FAIRE (Fairer Access into Real Experience) social mobility programme. 

The scheme provides work experience opportunities for people from lower socio-economic and minority backgrounds, who are under-represented in the legal profession. 

Laura Hughes, Head of the Public Law team and Executive Lead for Wales at Browne Jacobson, said: 

Tim Edds, Head of Cardiff, added:

The participating students were Emma Ostler Baraona, Ally Dowse, Jalan Marrast, Anya Millett, Lili-Berri Stokes and Joshua Blanks. 

They were connected with Browne Jacobson via the University of South Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University and social mobility charity, The Talent Tap.

Alongside the day with the Welsh Government, they shadowed Browne Jacobson’s Cardiff team of lawyers to witness first-hand the type of work they get involved in, and also spent time in court.  

During their visit to Cardiff Bay in March, the students were given a tour of the iconic Senedd building and also heard from Matthew Richards, Head of Legal Services, who gave his reflections on life as a parliamentary lawyer at the Senedd.

Stephanie Evans, Deputy Director for Welsh Government Legal Services, said: 

Since launching FAIRE in 2021, Browne Jacobson has engaged more than 30,500 people aged 16 to 19 from more than 2,000 schools and academies, and 90-plus universities.

It is part of a firm-wide commitment to fair working practices, inclusivity, collaboration and making sure it is at the forefront of conversations about how we can all tackle society’s biggest issues.

Recognition received for this work includes the Social Mobility Initiative of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2023, Equality Trailblazer award at the British Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Business Awards 2023, and being the highest-ranked law firm in the Social Mobility Index 2023, where Browne Jacobson was also ranked as one of the UK’s top five employers.