27 September 2010

 

Law Society to roll out packed programme for Black History Month

 

The Law Society will be celebrating the contribution of black lawyers and look to the next generation of solicitors as part of its Black History Month celebrations in October.

 

The Society, which marked the month for the first time last year, will roll out a programme of events throughout October aimed at up and coming young lawyers and those considering a career in law, to celebrate the invaluable contribution that black lawyers have made to society.

 

Law Society President Linda Lee says:

 

"The Law Society celebrates Black History Month to acknowledge the achievements of some of the legal profession's best lawyers, but also to flag up those achievements as an inspiration for tomorrow's solicitors.

 

"Those embarking on a career in law will have the opportunity to engage with some of the most successful lawyers in the profession." 

 

Black History Month celebrations will start with the official opening by Dr John Roberts QC of the Law Society's Black History Month Exhibition.

 

Mr Roberts was the first person of African ancestry to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel at the English Bar.

 

The exhibition will feature photographs of some of the most inspirational black lawyers, including former Attorney General Patricia Scotland QC, Employment Tribunal Chair Peter Herbert OBE, who is also a Recorder and part-time Special Immigration Judge, as well as Gifty Edila, who became the first female and the first ethnic Director of Law and Administration at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 2001.

 

Debo Nwauzu, Founder and Chair of BLD (Black Lawyers Directory), says: “We are very proud to be taking part in The Law Society’s Black History Month celebrations. The exhibition highlights the achievement and contribution of ethnic minorities in the legal profession in this country, a cause strongly supported at BLD since our inception in 2006 when we first published the annual ground-breaking Black Letter Law publication.”

 

The Society will also host the Black History Month Inspirational Evening on October 15, featuring a panel of guest speakers including the Honourable Mrs Justice Dobbs DBE, Angela Jackman, partner at Maxwell Gillott and Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2009, Oba Nsugbe QC, Head of 3 Pump Court Chambers, and Trevor James the first black managing partner at the London office of Morrison & Foerster, a leading US and international law firm.

 

The event begins at 6.00pm on 15 October and will give the audience the opportunity to hear high-profile lawyers talk about how they got to where they are with a Q&A session to follow.

 

Register for the event at blackhistorymonth@lawsociety.org.uk.

 

Ends

Notes to editors:

 

The Law Society’s Black History Month is sponsored by Wragge & Co.

 

Find out more about the Law Society’s Black History Month programme of events at http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/52648

 

Contact: Steve Rudaini, The Law Society

+44 (0)20 7316 5624 

 

www.lawsociety.org.uk/mediacentre