Earlier this year we read of Justine Greening’s latest social mobility action plan for the legal sector that sees law firms working more closely with universities to boost opportunities. This should be applauded, alongside all of the other social mobility programmes that are being undertaken across the profession and within organisations. However, this is still too late. I was the first in my family to even reach A Levels, let alone go to university, and I have spent the whole of my legal career supporting others from under-represented backgrounds to become lawyers. If we want to properly ensure access to the profession, then we have to start early and begin work in schools.
Before I begin my call to arms for us to rush into our nearest schools, it is important to know what we are trying to achieve. When I refer to access to the profession, this is two-fold:
- access to legal advice for every member of the public who needs it – the initial barrier being where the public do not know that legal assistance is available and where to find it; and
- access to becoming a solicitor for everyone who has the potential to reach our high standards, regardless of background or any other characteristic.
Why schools?
Several law firms have already confirmed that they are no longer looking at GCSE or A Level results when selecting candidates, in a bid to increase diversity. However, school is still where applicants set their future wheels in motion with selecting their subjects for further study, extra-curricular activities and, most importantly, mentally preparing themselves for the challenges ahead.
As such it makes sense to reach children in schools as early as possible to ensure that (1) they know what a solicitor is, (2) how to become one, (3) when they might need one and (4) most importantly, that we are approachable people not reserved for the most privileged in society.
What can WE do in schools?
The national curriculum surrounding legal education has not been revisited in some time. In terms of legal rights, principles and procedures, the government only mandates that key stage 3 pupils should be taught “the nature of rules and laws and the justice system, including the role of the police and the operation of courts and tribunals”. In my opinion, this is not enough and, as the experts, we should be helping to ensure that pupils are also equipped with the resources that they will need for adult life – employment rights, the difference between renting a property and purchasing one with a mortgage, and consumer rights, for example.
What can YOU do in schools?
So much of improving access to the profession is allowing young people to relate to solicitors who look and sound like them, to kick-start their own aspirations. This needs lawyers from across the country to go into local schools and talk about themselves, their work and what the students in front of them should do to start thinking about becoming a solicitor as well. At the most basic level we all have two hours a year to spare to contact a local school and pop in for an hour’s visit (or a video-call now that we are all so adept at these). If you find it difficult to engage with a school, then you can reach out through a local education business partnership or a charity that operates with your local authority.
If you have more time you might offer to run a mentoring scheme through the school or even host a visit to your office (or a virtual tour in the current climate). You can even make it a coordinated effort with others in your organisation or other local solicitors with whom you work – in the past I have packed a minibus with lawyers and driven us around various counties stopping at as many schools as we could for a day.
The point is that all of the social mobility initiatives that are being undertaken are doing great work and it is heartening that the profession realises that the best talent will only join us if we work hard to ensure diversity and inclusion. However, this will never be enough if children grow up into adults never knowing what a solicitor is, what they can do to help, or how they can become one.
Laura Uberoi is a council member of The Law Society and a senior solicitor at Macfarlanes
