Leasha L

Profile:

I grew up in a low-income family where none of my immediate family had been to University, and I didn’t know anyone in the legal profession who could give me any advice and guidance. Due to personal circumstances, I did not get the A-level grades that I was predicted and so had to work full- time, alongside studying an evening course at Birkbeck University in order to get the UCAS points needed for my degree. I completed my undergraduate law degree at London Southbank University with a First and was then awarded a scholarship from the Law Society’s Diversity Acess Scheme which gave me the funding needed for my LPC, alongside access to a mentor and work experience placements. I undertook my training contract in-house at a construction/development company and have since joined the Real Estate team at Winckworth Sherwood.

Diversity in the profession, especially in respect of social mobility, is important to me because it is
important for aspiring solicitors to see lawyers who have come from similar backgrounds to encourage them to join the profession and give them the confidence that they too can succeed and that their upbringing should not be a barrier to their progression. Nurturing talent from a diverse background will also lead to a more diverse way of thinking and problem-solving, which will enable lawyers to provide the best service possible to their clients. There is no point doing great work to encourage diversity in other areas such as race, gender, sexual orientation etc. if these groups are still only representing a more middle to upper-class group of society.

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