Outsiders learn the insiders’ code (original) (raw)

WHILE diversity may be the current buzzword among the City law firms, applying to work for them can seem a world apart for students who have not been to the top schools or universities.

The Siddiq sisters, Saba, 21, and Saima, 20, are determined to become City lawyers. They went to Kingsbury High School, a northwest London comprehensive, before going on to read law at Queen Mary, University of London. Saba is doing her Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law in London and has a training contract with Memery Crystal Solicitors in Chancery Lane. Saima is in her final year at Queen Mary’s and also has a place at the College of Law to do her LPC.

Both joined Global Graduates (GG), which runs programmes to help students from non-traditional backgrounds — about 75 per cent from ethnic minorities and 25 per cent white — to achieve their ambitions as lawyers. Set up five years ago by Yolanda Beckles, GG offers students “soft skills” training in writing CVs, filling out application forms and interview techniques, as well as arranging talks and open days at top firms.

Beckles explains: “Inner-city kids often miss out on self- confidence and networking skills. We give them the code to the game. I also tell them to volunteer. If you can’t go kayaking because your parents can’t afford it, work in the local hospice so you stand out in two or three years’ time when you are being interviewed.”

When Saima was in the sixth form, she only knew about legal aid firms. “Now I know more, I want to be a commercial lawyer in the City. Without help, I wouldn’t have known what they were looking for or how to apply. Many students have their confidence knocked because their applications are rejected and they don’t know where they went wrong.”

Saba adds: “It is daunting trying to get a training contract. A lot of people who are capable of getting to the top feel there is no point applying to the best firms because there is so much competition and they feel the firms are looking for a certain image. The meetings organised by GG with partners and trainees from different firms helps to break down prejudices.”

Dawn Hoskins was a full-time mother for 15 years before starting her law degree at Surrey University. Now in her final year, she went for an interview for a training contract at a top City law firm and sat for 45 minutes being told that, as a mother of three boys, she couldn’t possibly consider a career in law.

However, other firms were more enlightened and have offered training contracts to the 37-year-old student, which could mean doing the corporate LPC at BPP in London. Kofi Owusu Bempah, 26, started his training contract with Linklaters in March. “It is all about information. GG works closely with law firms so that it can help students to know what is expected of them, for instance, how to become commercially aware, and how to sell themselves.”

Nearly 600 students have gone or are going through GG programmes, with 150 finding training contracts. The courses, sponsored by some top City firms, start for GCSE students, who can then opt for a two-year programme at 16 if they are serious about a career in the City.

However, Beckles says: “Those law firms doing nothing need to ask themselves what kind of firm they are going to be in ten years’ time. The generation behind us is more ruthless about where they are going to work — they are not going to be locked to their desks 24/7 — and money isn’t everything. If they have not invested in those students they won’t be knocking on their doors — law firms need to take diversity seriously.”

www.globalgraduates.com.

Tel: 0207-291 1375

GRANIA LANGDON DOWN