BSN is once again delighted to be collaborating with leading professional services/consulting firm, Accenture, to offer an exciting opportunity for BSN student members to undertake a summer internship programme within its legal team. We invite our members who...
A national Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association has been agreed. This guidance is intended to assist investigators...
Dear members, As we come to terms with the unprecedented and profound impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we at BSN are focusing on how we can best support each other. In light of the...
BSN is pleased to support St Mary’s University, Twickenham through its Be SMART initiative to bring its BAME students and law firms together with legal internships funded by the university. If you are able to...
Creating Pathways was conceived in 2014, and is considered the first initiative of its kind for BAME lawyers working in private practice and in-house. BAME lawyers suffer higher attrition rates than their non-BAME colleagues. In...
Thank you to all of you who attended our AGM on Monday 13 January 2020. We hope you found the evening informative. If you would like to download a copy of the presentation, please click...
Dear Colleagues, As 2019 draws to a close, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support in our efforts to engender greater diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. It has been a very...
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the UK Diversity Legal Awards. An initiative of the Black Solicitors Network, these Awards remain the only industry awards in the UK which focus solely on recognising, promoting...
Interview by the Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, 2019 – a direct link to this article is provided within Paulette Mastin, Counsel at Linklaters within the Capital Markets practice, started her career with an investment...
15 October 2019 Dear members, Black History Month is here and we at BSN are excited to share with you our roster of inspirational events for the month of October, showcasing outstanding achievements and contributions...
BSN North held its first-ever summer interprofessional networking event earlier this month. With over 100 sign-ups, the positive response to the event highlighted the great demand for professional events that provide an inclusive space for...
We are delighted to advertise for the recruitment of a Legal Advisor and an Assistant Legal Adviser on behalf of Mi5 and Mi6 to our network of members. Please continue reading for further information, and...
Dear Colleague, We hope you’re enjoying the great British summer so far! We are delighted to share with you our pipeline of initiatives and events for the coming months. We hope you will agree these...
Stephen Friday – BSN Director and Co-Founder It is with deep sadness that we announce the untimely passing of one of the founders and a Director of the Black Solicitors Network (BSN), Stephen Friday, on...
Article for the Chartered Management Institute, by Paulette Mastin The economic and moral case for ethnic diversity in the workplace is well-rehearsed. McKinsey’s 2018 research on diversity in the workplace revealed that companies with the...
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) are recruiting for the following roles: Chair Lay panel members Accountant panel member, including accountants with audit expertise Regulatory Assessor (auditor) Successful applicants will join ACCA’s panel of...
“BSN welcomes the introduction of ethnicity pay reporting. Despite race discrimination legislation in the field of employment being in place for over 40 years it, broadly, remains the case that those from ethnic minority backgrounds...
Diversity and inclusion role models, champions and leaders were honoured at the 9th Annual UK Diversity Legal Awards ceremony on Tuesday, 21 November at the prestigious Grange St Paul’s Hotel, London! This year we were...
Big Voice London, a youth legal and social mobility charity is looking for volunteers for their upcoming Model Law Commission conference. Big Voice London seeks to engage young people from non-traditional backgrounds in law and...
The SRA is seeking two new lay Board members to take up post in January 2019. If you are interested in joining the SRA’s Board, further information can be found here: https://www.saxbam.com/appointment/solicitors-regulation-authority/
The Black Solicitors Network is an award winning not-for-profit organisation of 20+ years standing, committed to achieving equality of access, retention and promotion of black solicitors. Our membership has grown markedly over the years, but...
On 22 June 2018 The Home Secretary appointed Wendy Williams as Independent Adviser to a lessons learned review “to make sure crucial lessons were identified and learned as quickly as possible, to prevent something like...
Shakespeare’s Globe announces programme for festival ‘Shakespeare and Race’. Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce the programme for‘Shakespeare and Race’, a new festival of events opening 11 August. This is the first time in the Globe’s...
The Judicial Appointments Commission’s (JAC) process to select candidates for the post of Deputy District Judge is due to launch on 1 March 2018. There are 303 vacancies across England and Wales. This presents an...
BSN reported in November 2017 that the Law Society intended to issue proceedings for a judicial review of the government’s decision to implement further cuts to payments made to solicitors doing criminal legal aid work....
Black History Month: “Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance” 31 October 2017 00:02 As Black History Month comes to a close, discussions are focusing again on the obstacles which...
Black History Month: “To make it to the top you need to be resilient and fearless” 23 October 2017 00:01 For me Black History Month is chance for everyone to reflect on the achievements black people...
Black History Month: Report reveals “worrying” barrier to partnership for women and BMEs 13 October 2017 09:00 Linklaters corporate counsel Paulette Mastin has spent her entire career at the magic circle firm and has acted as...
Law Society Council meeting summary: 5 and 6 July 2017 Council report Council met for the last meeting of the 2016-17 ‘season’, with a full agenda, and this was followed by the Annual General Meeting...
NEWSLETTER MAY 2017 Dear Colleague, We are delighted to share with you our pipeline of initiatives and events for the coming months. We hope you will agree these present exciting opportunities to get involved with BSN’s...
We were delighted to launch and release the findings of the 2017 edition of BSN’s Diversity League Table: 10-year Study (DLT2017) at a launch event hosted by Latham & Watkins on...
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is carrying out research into the career choices of Female and Black and Asian Minority Ethnic solicitors. We want to know what more can be done to improve the representation of...
The Creative Industries Federation unites the UK’s diverse arts and creative industries to secure the policies and funding needed to further Britain’s global success as a cultural powerhouse. If you are a board-ready individual and...
Freshfields, Linklaters, and Hogan Lovells honoured for diversity and inclusion initiatives Birnberg Pierce partner Marcia Willis Stewart takes home yet another gong after a rollercoaster year. The UK Diversity Legal Awards 2016 have once again...
On a crisp November evening over 250 hundred guests representing a cross section of firms, chambers and legal industry bodies turned out in their finery to recognise and celebrate those seeking to promote diversity across...
The Ministry of Justice has launched a call for evidence to support the Tailored Reviews of the Legal Services Board (LSB) and the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). This is part of the broader government...
Hogan Lovells shortlisted for three awards but Freshfields, Clifford Chance, and Linklaters are also in the running. A host of international law firms for awards celebrating efforts aimed at increasing diversity within the legal profession....
BSN is once again delighted to be collaborating with leading professional services/consulting firm, Accenture, to offer an exciting opportunity for BSN student members to undertake a summer internship programme within its legal team. We invite our members who…
A national Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association has been agreed. This guidance is intended to assist investigators…
Dear members, As we come to terms with the unprecedented and profound impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we at BSN are focusing on how we can best support each other. In light of the…
What is it about – The regulation of legal services and those who provide them. The Legal Services Act 2007 created a new framework for the regulation of legal services and those who provide them….
Our Response About Us The Black Solicitors’ Network (BSN) was formed in 1995 to promote the interests of black solicitors, to support and share information and to participate in consultations, initiated by the Law Society…
BSN is pleased to support St Mary’s University, Twickenham through its Be SMART initiative to bring its BAME students and law firms together with legal internships funded by the university. If you are able to…
Creating Pathways was conceived in 2014, and is considered the first initiative of its kind for BAME lawyers working in private practice and in-house. BAME lawyers suffer higher attrition rates than their non-BAME colleagues. In…
Thank you to all of you who attended our AGM on Monday 13 January 2020. We hope you found the evening informative. If you would like to download a copy of the presentation, please click…
Dear Colleagues, As 2019 draws to a close, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support in our efforts to engender greater diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. It has been a very…
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the UK Diversity Legal Awards. An initiative of the Black Solicitors Network, these Awards remain the only industry awards in the UK which focus solely on recognising, promoting…
17 October 2019 Black Solicitors Network and Linklaters were delighted to host an evening with Gina Miller last Wednesday. The evening with Gina Miller was a master class in living a life with purpose and…
Interview by the Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, 2019 – a direct link to this article is provided within Paulette Mastin, Counsel at Linklaters within the Capital Markets practice, started her career with an investment…
