Beyond Black History Month – Top tips for (any) aspiring lawyer

During Black History Month, we celebrated black lawyers from history and lawyers who are making history today.  Looking forward, what are the prospects for aspiring lawyers who want to enter the profession or to mark their mark?

In the third of a series of blogs by our Afro-Caribbean colleagues at Miles and Partners, five lawyers share their top tips for anyone who might be wondering about their future.

Camika Boamah is a trainee solicitor, currently gaining experience in family law.  At the beginning of career, Camika shares the understanding that the profession may at times seem uninviting. However, her advice is to:

Remember that you are equipped with the same skills and qualities as your peers. Wherever you choose to set your sights, run your own race and focus on the end goal. Work hard, seek advice, engage in legal events, mentoring programmes. Network, network, and network!

Danielle Apenteng is also a trainee solicitor, currently working in family law, mental health and mental capacity. Danielle’s advice to young professionals is to:

Be bold! Be unapologetic! Walk with an unerring belief that you deserve to be in the same room as your counterparts and to reach the highest heights you can imagine.

Floyd Porter is joint head of our Mental Health and Capacity team and is a recognised leader in training and professional development for other lawyers in mental health law. Floyd’s advice is to:

Work hard without letting reference to colour or race define what you can do or aim to achieve.

Lorraine Green is a partner specialising in local authority care proceedings. She has been practising for 26 years and was recently called to give evidence to the Government.  Lorraine’s advice to upcoming talent is to:

Work hard. Be confident. Be determined.

Be the best you can be.

Linda Pope is an Associate Solicitor in our family law team.  Linda’s word of advice to young black professionals embarking on their careers, is to:

Persevere.

Linda sent in around 150 applications for a training contract, was invited to four interviews and ended up being offered a training contract with a large Legal 500 regional firm!

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.