The primary aim of Birmingham Black Lawyers is to advance diversity within the legal profession. To achieve this goal, we have undertaken the following initiatives: 1. Continued our partnership with the Tyro Lawyer Plus mentoring program, offering a tailored mentoring scheme to a further 15 aspiring lawyers. This program encompassed six months of one-on-one mentoring, networking skills workshops, guidance on applying for vacation schemes and training con-tracts, a dedicated networking event, an open day at the prestigious National Law firm Higgs LLP, and complimentary tickets to our annual black-tie ball and awards ceremony. 2. Organised multiple panel events at local universities exclusively for aspiring black lawyers. These events took place at the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and the University of Law, featuring panels of lawyers from various practice areas. 3. Hosted our second Careers Fair in collaboration with Aston Law School; enabling Black students to speak with law firms. The exhibitors ensured the representatives sent were from a diverse back-ground. Over 170 students attended and 12 exhibitors were present which included Birmingham Law society, national law firms, companies who deliver the SQE prep course and barristers chambers . 4. Hosted our annual Black-Tie Ball and awards ceremony, showcasing the talents of black lawyers in the legal profession. This event attracted over 330 members of the legal community, including the local and national Law Society presidents, judges, senior lawyers, and more. 40 students were granted complimentary admission, providing them with the opportunity to network with legal professionals, seek work experience opportunities, and be inspired to pursue their legal careers. 5. Conducted various skills workshops and seminars, with a focus on career development, designed to support established black lawyers in their progression to more senior roles. 6. Held our third Student Empowerment Conference in collaboration with Freeth’s LLP – an initiative aimed at 16-18 year olds. We again hosted 30 students from Central St Michaels Sixth form college for a day of interactive sessions aim at giving them an insight into the life of a lawyer and to help them develop the skills they’d need for the profession. 7. Arranged numerous social events, enabling aspiring lawyers to connect and network with established professionals, expand their professional networks, and secure work experience opportunities. These events foster peer-to-peer interactions and facilitate the exchange of insights and knowledge be-tween junior and senior solicitors, barristers, and members of the judiciary i.e. our annual Black History Month event (sponsored by Robert Walters and Birmingham Solicitors Group), Networking social also hosted at Jamaya’s restaurant and a welcome networking event at Ashers Bar. 8. Collaborated with various law firms to host open days, affording aspiring black lawyers the chance to learn about law firms, their work, and the application process. 9. Maintained relationships with key stakeholders to ensure that issues impacting the black legal community are effectively communicated and that collaborative efforts are undertaken to ensure the representation of black lawyers aligns with the diverse Birmingham community i.e. attending meetings and round table discussions to discuss differential outcomes of BAME students on the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. These projects, representing only a portion of our efforts, have directly benefited members of the black legal community and aspiring black lawyers. They have created a supportive community for lawyers who often find themselves as the sole black individuals within law firms, while also providing opportunities that enhance the prospects of aspiring black lawyers in securing successful roles in the legal field.

We engage with community stakeholders such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), The national Law Society and the Birmingham Law Society and many of the large solicitor firms and barrister’s chambers and academic institutions in the Midlands area in order to advocate for improved diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. This creates a platform for unified representation of issues affecting the black legal community. The discussion with key stakeholders enables us to directly influence the discussion and action taken in the various diversity and inclusion strategies, the impact being that tangible change occurs. In the almost 15 years we have been operating as a social networking group, we have already seen the impact our work has had on improving diversity within the Birmingham legal community.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration