The programme is delivered through 7 consecutive weeks with a single cohort of students currently considering a career in law. The weekly modules aim to consolidate and develop the students’ understanding of the law and career paths available within the profession as well as developing skills and tools to pursue that career path through an interactive blend of classwork and coursework. In particular, the programme allows participants to consider their personal skills and attributes and how these naturally developed qualities are beneficial in different legal professional roles. The programme is co-founded by Georgina McManus, Chief Legal Officer at Manolo Blahnik and Dr Tunde Okewale, MBE, Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and founder of the registered charity Urban Lawyers.
Programme participants have had the opportunity to meet and interact with leading legal professionals, academics and researchers from renowned chambers and law firms. The participants are able to leave the programme with clear memories of legal professionals and be exposed to diversity within the sector, providing an opportunity to project themselves into these spaces.
Urban Lawyers and Manolo Blahnik successfully host annual “Immersion Day’s” as part of the INLAW programme. Here, students from Park View School are taken to visit Taylor Wessing. Students have been fortunate to meet the inspiring lawyers and business service providers from Taylor Wessing, Doughty Street Chambers, Garden Court Chambers, and Manolo Blahnik. The students also visit the Manolo Blahnik Boutique and engage in a Q&A session with Kristina Blahnik, the CEO at Manolo Blahnik. In January 2023 part of the day was filmed by BBC London and focused on discussing underrepresentation in the legal system. Many of the students involved in the programme have found the Immersion Day very key to learning about the legal profession, implementing what they have learnt so they can pursue their own legal professional careers.
INLAW is a legacy programme capable of scaling to maximise exposure of underrepresented, minority group students to the legal profession.
INLAW’s ultimate objectives
- Provide under-represented students insight into the legal profession and breadth of career options (including support role opportunities within law)
- Empower and equip students with fundamental career skills and knowledge
- Enable students to make an informed decisions on how to pursue a career within the legal profession
- Support students to identify their personal attributes, aptitudes and skills, and present legal career options complementing these
- Offer mentorship and support
- Advice on pathways to careers in law, including development of CV, personal presentation, and interview skills