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Accessibility Into Law for Black Lawyers Panel event
Accessibility Into Law for Black Lawyers Panel and Q&A session
On October 2022 the College ran an informative panel discussion where we explored the experiences of black students accessing and achieving in the legal profession, including early reflections on the introduction of the SQE. Within this session we hear from two black legal professionals and their legal journey so far. We also share the College’s perspectives and discuss what we can do in legal education to support black lawyers to achieve. This session was also followed up with a Q&A session and a list of supporting networks and associations to help.
Topics covered:
- SQE and the attainment gap
- Early Legal education experiences
- The undergraduate experience for black students
- Experiences during training contracts and placements
- How firms can support their trainees who are also studying
- Advice, support and resources
Watch the full panel event below
Our Speakers
Isaac Eloi, Junior Legal Counsel at ICE and Co-Founder of the Black Men in Law Network
Isaac Eloi is an award-winning, two years qualified music publishing lawyer at ICE and the co-founder of the Black Men In Law Network. The 320+ member strong network was founded to increase the representation of and reduce the attrition of Black male lawyers in law in the UK. He has been interviewed by the BBC podcast, Not All Lawyers Have Degrees, he has written on the importance of diversity and inclusion within the legal profession in The Lawyer and more widely in the Times Student Review and became a published author in 2021, writing about eastern Caribbean diasporic carnival culture in Black Joy, published by Penguin Random House.
Maab Saifeldin, Flex In-House Trainee Solicitor
Maab Saifeldin is a trainee solicitor working in-house qualifying through the SQE pathway. Between work and studies, Maab creates career and lifestyle specific content to share her experiences as a black practising Muslim in the corporate sector with the intention of helping and inspiring other young professionals.
Resources
As awareness and understanding of intersectionality and the need to bridge the attainment gap, there are many support groups, charities and more born to help address this issue. Below is a list of resources that may be helpful
Black lawyer support:
- BML Network (Black Men In Law) - LinkedIn
- Black Solicitors Network
- Black Lawyers Matter mentoring
- Birmingham Black Lawyers
- LawCare
EDI groups and resources:
- LCN Net’s Diversity Hub
- Grow mentoring
- Forage: Virtual work experience
- Aspiring Solicitors Foundation
- 93% Club
Awareness content for organisations:
In Africa in order for you to get a good job, you have to have a good degree. The networking starts after you finish your degree but in the UK it’s- you get a good degree but you still network. So, for my parents they were very much ‘get a first’ ‘get a 2:1’, they weren’t pushing me towards networking...
