What great news for young students from diverse backgrounds. Browne Jacobson has taken on six work experience students, who are currently part of the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), as part of its continued efforts to address fairer access and diversity within the legal profession.
The students will begin their week-long work experience placement across multiple specialist legal practices across Browne Jacobson’s five offices.
The DAS scholarship initiative was launched by the Law Society in 2004 to break down barriers within the legal profession, offering Legal Practice Course (LPC) bursary funding. They also offer mentor support and work experience to students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
During their paid placement at Browne Jacobson, voted the UK’s leading employer for social mobility according to the Social Mobility Employer Index 2021, a dedicated mentee will support the students.
The students will gain real insight into the legal sector culture and commercial awareness. And be able to discover the firm’s diverse sector offering and its broad client portfolio, which includes blue-chip corporates, local and owner-managed businesses, NHS trusts, major insurers, education and public sector organisations.
Diversity as a priority
Beyond this initiative, Browne Jacobson will also welcome 18 work experience students via its various other career programmes, including its FAIRE (Fairer Access into Real Experience) programme and its recently launched dedicated Black lawyers mentoring programme.
Browne Jacobson is nationally recognised for its commitment to promoting greater diversity and inclusion throughout the legal profession, even when the industry is improving its diversity make-up at all levels. Diversity remains a key strategic priority.
Suki Tonks, a partner at Browne Jacobson and one of the firm’s sponsors for social mobility, said DAS has helped diversify the legal profession since its launch. “It opened it up to some really talented aspiring lawyers who, because of their less advantaged backgrounds or educational inequalities, may have missed out on key career opportunities without it. So, we are delighted to be further supporting this impactful and much-needed initiative.
Real impact
Tom Lyas, Recruitment Manager at Browne Jacobson, added: “We are still very much on the journey to breaking down barriers in the legal profession. We are proud to further support the Law Society’s DAS students and offer students linked to our own talent programmes this fantastic opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to work in the legal profession. And arm them with the support and tools they need to have a successful and meaningful start to their legal careers.”
Lynette Wieland, Browne Jacobson’s health and social care law, is an ambassador for social mobility at the Law Society. Her background is a good example. She came through the DAS scheme, which helped secure her an apprenticeship at the firm. Which then led to a paralegal position and her later qualifying as a solicitor.
