Browne Jacobson and ‘Young Professionals’ deliver UK’s biggest virtual student law careers event

National law firm Browne Jacobson has today (Tuesday 6 April) hosted its FAIRE: virtual work experience and legal career insights event which is being held in collaboration with Young Professionals and is the vision of Browne Jacobson’s Recruitment Manager, Tom Lyas.

The free two day event has gained huge engagement with over 7,000 attendees joining on day one alone and over 10,000 participants signing up across the full breadth of the UK (including over 50% from Black, Asian or Minority ethnic communities and a high proportion from lower socio-economic postcodes). The event pro-actively targeted schools in every social mobility cold spot.

The event is aimed at 16 - 19 year olds and offers a snapshot into the working environment of a national law firm and explores the various career options available. It will also give a candid insight into the legal profession.

The jam-packed schedule includes workshops, keynote speakers and Q&A sessions. Various Browne Jacobson professionals including senior partners, directors and senior managers from the firm’s central teams, lawyers and trainees will also share their thought provoking stories and experiences of their law firm careers, the various roles within a law firm and their journeys into the profession.

There will also be inspirational contributions from a host of high calibre industry professionals including, Joshua Best, founder and President of the 93% club, Chris Daw QC, Ranae Oliver, in-house lawyer at Financial Ombudsman Service, Charlotte Burton-Barker, learning consultant at Adaptis and I.Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society.

This is the first ever event under Browne Jacobson’s FAIRE initiative (Fairer Access into Real Experience) which has been devised by Recruitment Manager, Tom Lyas. FAIRE underpins Browne Jacobson’s commitment to social mobility and offers students a different route and easier access to breaking into the legal industry.

Post-event, participants will receive an e-certificate to add to their CV to help boost future career prospects. They will also be able to access future virtual skill sessions including cv workshops and sessions around commercial awareness and succeeding at assessment centres.

Dan Miller of Young Professionals commented:

“We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Browne Jacobson on bringing this dynamic and innovative event to life. This work experience insight is one of, if not the biggest ever virtual event to take place in the UK for students looking to get into law and will be invaluable to many budding professionals looking to get on in the professional services industry.”

Tom Lyas of Browne Jacobson added:

“It is fantastic to have teamed up with Young Professionals on this hugely popular and innovative event which will be a great platform to showcase our exciting new initiative FAIRE.

“This event is the first of a series of events that builds on our ambitions of breaking down barriers to accessing careers in professional services. It is unique in its offer of free access for all, with no specific academic grades needed and no lengthy selective application process.

“As the UK’s fifth leading employer in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2020, we are committed to innovative ways of attracting future talent and to helping people from all backgrounds get a foot in the door and this event only amplifies that.”

Mark Blois, partner and head of Browne Jacobson’s education practice commented:

“We are delighted to be involved in this incredible event. As a law firm working with more than 1300 education provider clients nationally every year, we absolutely see the benefit in a joint event such as this.

“People from lower socio-economic and minority backgrounds are still hugely underrepresented in the legal profession so events like this will be integral in changing the way law firms recruit future talent and ensuring law firms foster a culture of inclusivity.”