AS All Star Awards

Best Diversity Initiative

Congratulations to Mayer Brown International LLP for winning the “Best Diversity Initiative 2023 Award”. This was awarded based on their unique Accelerate coaching programme. This programme has assisted 30 trainees since October 2021, with each trainee receiving six hours of coaching in the run-up to, during and beyond their qualification. Trainees were given a space in which they could share their experiences from an inclusion perspective. They said the initiative led to increased confidence, higher levels of motivation, enhanced focus on career development and enhanced well-being. 

Best Mentoring Scheme

Congratulations to Ashurst & Societie Generale for winning the “Best Mentoring Scheme 2023 Award”. This was awarded as over 94% of mentees rated the content of the workshops as excellent, and all said they will stay in touch with their mentors. Members cited the dual view of both law firm and in-house representatives as very informative, one member said the “one-on-one mentoring has been both inspiring and motivating, and I will forever remember the invaluable advice given to me during this time”.

Highly Commended - Mentoring Scheme

In recognition of the impact this Scheme had on our AS members, our highly commended mentoring scheme is awarded to Barclays and Pinsent Masons. 

This Scheme was clearly designed with a lot of care, as mentees felt that the sessions were “tailored” to them and said that their mentors were “approachable and incredibly supportive”. In particular, one mentee mentioned that their “confidence in the application process and [their] own personal development grew after each mentoring session”.

Best Work Placement

Congratulations to Formula 1 for winning the “Best Work Placement 2023 Award”. The results from this legal work placement speak for themselves. 4/4 candidates secured training contracts following this placement, and one further candidate has no fewer than 6 vacation schemes this year. The feedback was exhilarating, like most of their work. One member shared that they “feel much more prepared and aware of the challenges of in-house legal teams and learnt many transferrable skills which I can apply to applications or private practice environments” whilst another cited how it also their “teamwork, problem-solving and public speaking skills, all essential for a commercial solicitor”.

Best Firm Event

Congratulations to Kirkland & Ellis for winning the “Best Firm Event 2023 Award”. This was awarded based on AS member results and feedback, overall candidate feedback of 9.5/10 and 9+ across all other feedback scores including usefulness, content, how it increases their understanding of the firm, and overall rating. Feedback from our AS members described this firm’s event as having, ‘…an excellent format… with the balance between interactive sessions and informative presentations, like the private equity focused workshop, making for an engaging and informative day, delivered by diverse contributors.

Highly Commended - Firm Events

As there were so many incredible insight days, we have chosen to award three organisations this year, with one overall winner and two highly commended runners up.

The highly commended awards go to: (i) Akin Gump for their very transparent and commercially-focused insight day and (ii) Jones Day, for their sector-focused approach and innovative Real-Estate workshop.  

All Star Individual

Congratulations to Alice Hill of Charles Russell Speechlys for winning the “All Star Individual 2023 Award”. This year we are recognising an individual who has worked at a cross-section of law firms over the last few years but whose innovative and committed approach to DE&I continues to grow. 

All Star Diversity Inspiration

Congratulations to Jeveta McDonald of bp for winning the “All Star Diversity Inspiration 2023 Award”. Jeveta has helped to create and establish one of the largest DE&I initiatives in the legal profession over the last two years, working tirelessly to ensure both Schemes have been a success. Her relentless commitment to meritocracy and importantly the future of the legal profession is unrivalled. In a recent video about the scheme, she shared a wonderful quote that we can all resonate with: “If you want to go fast, go alone if you want to go far, go together”.

All Star Performance in Recruiting Diverse Talent

Congratulations to Weil for winning the “All Star Performance in Recruiting Diverse Talent 2023 Award”. Awarded based on the results of the last recruitment cycle, Weil hired a record number of exceptional diverse candidates in 2022. The firm’s involvement in several AS initiatives including being one of the first to deliver a black heritage mentoring scheme, providing first-class speakers at the AS diversity events including industry leaders featured in social mobility documentaries on the BBC, as well as prominence at the VDLFs have been at the root of its outstanding results.

All Star Improvement in Recruiting Diverse Talent

Congratulations to PwC for winning the “All Star Improvement in Recruiting Diverse Talent 2023 Award”. This award recognised the AS partner firm that has made the most progress relative to its position one year ago. PwC’s future trainee intake is represented by an incredible 63% of AS Members. An achievement with added significance due to the drive and determination of the fee earners who have delivered these efforts alongside their day job as Solicitors.

Overall Best Retention of Diverse Talent

Congratulations to Mayer Brown International LLP for winning the “Overall Best Retention of Diverse Talent 2023 Award”. Following many years of outstanding results in recruiting exceptional diverse talent, it is amazing to see this Mayer Brown retain so many of those star AS performers that have shined during initiatives like the Commercial Awareness Competition. Their investment in a dedicated programme to support its trainees is an industry first, leading to the fantastic outcomes recognised by this award.

All Star Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Congratulations to Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP for winning the “All Star Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion 2023 Award”. BCLP were the first firm to become involved in the AS Academy initiative which delivers 1-1 coaching support at each stage of their candidates’ careers from the moment they receive their vacation scheme offer, as a future trainee and during their training contract. Beyond this, their leadership team works together to progress their commitment and this is apparent not only in early careers but in other areas of their business.