To mark Black History Month, the Law Society has issued guidance to support black and minority ethnic students entering the profession.
Nearly a fifth of the profession is made up of solicitors from minority ethnic backgrounds. However, the guidance acknowledges that the competitive job market can feel even more overwhelming for minority ethnic students who are also having to overcome assumption-based barriers and lack of representation.
The guidance covers topics such as research on securing a training opportunity, building confidence, making connections, utilising one’s background, funding opportunities such as the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme, useful contacts, and a list of support networks.
Society president Nick Emmerson said: ‘The journey to a legal career can be a daunting experience for all aspiring solicitors. For a minority ethnic student, the extremely competitive environment may feel even more overwhelming, especially with the added challenges of having to overcome barriers often based on assumptions and lack of knowledge.’
