centre for research into diversity in the professions bme conference july 8 th 2010 jane stapleford

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH INTO DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSIONS

Challenging barriers to diversity in the legal Challenging barriers to diversity in the legal profession by enhancing the employability of profession by enhancing the employability of

black and ethnic minority students.black and ethnic minority students.

BME Conference July 8th 2010

Jane Stapleford

www.leedsmet.ac.uk/research/crdp


Purpose of the presentationPurpose of the presentation

1. Brief introduction to research conducted by Professor Hilary Sommerlad and others in the Centre for Research into Diversity in the Professions (CRDP), into the barriers faced by students who do not fit the professional norm of the legal profession

2. to explore the ways in which the employability of these ‘non-traditional’ graduates might be enhanced within the law curriculum.


Diversity & the legal profession- Diversity & the legal profession- backgroundbackground

Law is particularly attractive to BME and other non-traditional students and ‘new’ university Law Schools have successful examples of widening participation

Law professional bodies stress need for diversity in the profession

BUT


Diversity & the legal profession-backgroundDiversity & the legal profession-background

Unequal opportunities for graduates from ‘new’ universities, preference for graduates from prestigious universities

Barriers to non- traditional students persist - the legal profession has traditionally maintained status & coherence through exclusion of ‘outsiders’ and strong professional socialisation

Law firms continue preference for inherited cultural capital and disregard the skills / attributes which legal practice actually demands

Promotion within the profession for those who do not fit the norm is limited


Research – LPC ( Research – LPC ( Legal Practice CourseLegal Practice Course))

Research Questions: What attracts non- traditional students to law? What do they

know about the subject and employment prospects? If they want to be lawyers, how do they imagine the

profession, and their career trajectories? How do they gain entry and into which sectors? If they gain entry:

• will they be obliged to ‘enact’ a normative professional identity?

• or will they challenge it?


L A LawyersL A Lawyers


Students’ motivations & aspirationsStudents’ motivations & aspirationsMedia generated understandings of field and thus unrealistic expectations and aspirations:

“I used to watch LA Law so I sort of knew what a lawyer was ..”

Money and status common motivation and aspiration to enter corporate sector, partnership, high salary: “you have more money and…more respect”

Only 5% aspired to legal aid practice: “I was interested in social justice but I can’t afford to go into that’


Non- traditional law students’ perceptions Non- traditional law students’ perceptions of the Law of the Law

Non traditional students were asked to:

“draw what comes into your mind when you think of a lawyer”


They don’t conceptualise anything that resembles themselves!


linguistic skills- ‘talk the talk’

criticalunderstanding

local labour market

‘walk the walk’

think like a lawyer

understand the culture

other prospects

Conclusion- Legal skills needed:Conclusion- Legal skills needed:

develop cultural capital


For more details about For more details about Professor Sommerlad’s researchProfessor Sommerlad’s research

Sommerlad, H.(2007)‘Researching and theorizing the processes of professional identity formation’, Journal of Law & Society, 34, 2, pp 190-217

www.leedsmet.ac.uk/research/crdp/


Strategies for enhancing the Strategies for enhancing the employability of graduates, employability of graduates, especially non- traditional especially non- traditional

graduatesgraduates


Interventions for the LLB (Interventions for the LLB (undergraduateundergraduate): ): interlocking approachesinterlocking approaches

Undergraduate curriculum change

Work with employers

Engagement with senior policy makers


Working with employersWorking with employers

Employer Focus Groups

their views ondiversity &equality

sensitise them toissues

theirrequirements for ‘ideal’trainee/lawyer

involve them incurriculum design & delivery

raise profile ofLeeds Met’s student body


Focus Group of Law FirmsFocus Group of Law Firms

Questions posed to the participants generated information relating to employability of applicants to law firms.

These were:What would you look for in a trainee?

What are the key attributes and skills needed to be a successful solicitor?

What topics/skills do you feel should be addressed by the Law School in order to produce effective trainees?


oral communication-telephone

intuition‘streetwise’

negotiation

good research skills

leadership

good letter writing

presentation skills

Attributes required by Law firms – Attributes required by Law firms – as expectedas expected

organisation skills


languages

extra-curricular activities

“somethingdifferent”

work experience

personality “spark”

ability to recognise when they don’t know

business acumen

Further attributes required by Law firms - Further attributes required by Law firms -

scientificbackground


Focus Group- Focus Group- suggested additions to the curriculumsuggested additions to the curriculum

Business strategy

Strong view that nowadays students of law should study Business strategy and strategic planning. Students should gain an understanding of business and be made aware of the business world as most law firms these days have to compete as businesses in a competitive market.


Preparing for an Interview- have: Preparing for an Interview- have:

understanding of local labour market

researched the firm

accurate spelling

appropriate dress- tidy, shiny shoes

something to say

Interviewee


Curriculum development in the LLB- our Curriculum development in the LLB- our aspirationsaspirations

Reflective workbook

Recording of experience and evidence

Reflecting on group project and career

strategy

Reflection

Real-life group project

Lawyers as mentors

Team work

Group assessment

Work Project

Research careers in legal profession

Visit courts and law firms

Inputs- lectures/ seminars from experts

Personal Career Strategy

Career/Personal Development


Examples of sessions to support career/ Examples of sessions to support career/ personal development:personal development:

Personal development

planning

Expectations of employers

Diversity in the legal profession

Interpersonal perception, prejudice

Self- awareness CV development

Psychology of dress

Applications and gaining training

contracts

Presentation

skillsThe skills of

reflection


Involving Law Firms: EvershedsInvolving Law Firms: Eversheds an international law firm, one of the largest full service law

firms in the world, acting for the public and private sector.

40 offices across UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia.

take corporate responsibility and diversity very seriously

keen to work with us


Involving Law Firms in the curriculumInvolving Law Firms in the curriculum

An example from Year 2A ‘trusts’ based project including writing a letter to a beneficiary who had a contingent interest under a fixed trust but had particular family and social needs and was therefore requesting both maintenance and an advancement of capital. The letter requires that the students:

demonstrate the ability to explain to the lay beneficiary the principles of law involved

handle difficult emotional issues demonstrating empathy and understanding.


Involving Law Firms in the curriculumInvolving Law Firms in the curriculum(-Year 2 example continued)(-Year 2 example continued)

Leeds Law School staff mark the projects and identify the best six letters which are then discussed by Eversheds staff and Law School to agree the winner.

A feedback session including tutors and Eversheds staff.

Eversheds present a certificate and small prize to the writers of the best letters.



An example from Year 2 Research project based on employment law, in particular

issues of discrimination and diversity including ethics and professional conduct.

Students produce a research report focusing on these issues within a particular legal or business context of their choice (subject to approval by the module leader).

Eversheds, in conjunction with Leeds Law School, deliver lectures and some lectures delivered in conjunction with other smaller local law firms.



A proposed activity for Year 3

Leeds Met run mock assessment centres which would be filmed. Using the films Eversheds and other law firms participate in a feedback session to all students.


Outcomes for studentsOutcomes for students

insight into the legal profession

legal skills

employability skills eg. team working, action planning, organising

contacts

increased realism

Student


Jane Stapleford

[email protected]@gmail.com

www.leedsmet.ac.uk/research/crdp

centre for research into diversity in the professions bme conference july 8 th 2010 jane stapleford

Documents

professions law

lawyer slide

professions research

limited slide

diversity equality

professions sommerlad

new university slide

work experience slide