‘…the [trauma-informed] training was so good … some of the best & most informative training I have done for a long time.’ – Anonymous barrister mentor
We have the best news to share. We aimed for just 5 mentors to train and match with our incredibly inspiring #careexperienced mentees. We have, however, trained our first 30 solicitor and barrister mentors in our 'Care Aware' and Trauma-Informed' training on 11th and 25th July 2024!
That is 30 solicitors and barristers agreeing to commit to a 2 year relationship with their mentee one hour per month, as well as to champion care-experienced inclusion in legal careers. We wanted to express our utmost gratitute towards our first cohort of mentors - you are the real MVPs!
This blog summarises the training and shares some quotes from our first ten mentorship organisations: Garden Court Chambers, East Anglian Chambers, 3 Verulum Building Chambers, Blackstone Chambers, Dawson Cornwell, Spire Barristers, Wilsons LLP, 1 Crown Office Row, GT Stewart Solicitors and Oliver Fisher Solicitors.
'3VB is proud to be one of the Founder members of Lawyers Who Care. Members of 3VB are committed to mentoring people from all walks of life. Supporting the LWC initiative is part of 3VB’s aim to make a positive impact on society by addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges and improving diversity at the commercial Bar and the Bar more widely.' - 3 Verulum Building Chambers.
11th July 2024 LWC Care Aware Training:
Sponsored by Burges Salmon LLP, we trained our first cohort of mentors on what it means to become Care Aware, honouring and listening to lived experiences as well as statistics of the care system and data on the discrimination often faced by care-experienced people. We also had the honour of listening to Judith Denton, CEO of The Transformed You and The Black Care Experience, speak on 'The Power of Mentoring.'
25th July 2024 LWC Trauma-Informed Training:
Also sponsored by Burges Salmon LLP, we trained our first cohort of mentors on trauma-informed mentoring, expertly delivered by psychologist Dr Rhiannon Lewis, Lucy Barnes and Amanda Meusz. We discussed the myths surrounding what trauma is, C-PTSD and PTSD, the myths surrounding what 'trauma-informed' means, co-regulation and grounding methods and the vital importance of mitigating vicarious trauma and promoting well-being.
At the conclusion of both training sessions, mentors left equipped with a resource pack to assist them in their mentoring relationship. Their resource pack/bundle included practical skills for mentors as well as key statistics and reports relating to care-experienced people, a key signposting document and a handout on trauma.
We also offer support groups for both mentors and mentees, as well as FREE supplementary webinars for both mentors and mentees.
" Lawyers Who Care is more than just a Mentoring Organisation, they are a beacon of hope and catalyst for positive change in the lives of Care-Experienced people. As a firm we signed up within 20 minutes! What they are providing our staff in training is one of a kind and we cannot wait to start welcoming care experienced people to start their first steps into the law with us." - Oliver Conway, mentor from Oliver Fisher Solicitors
Inclusive Networking:
And, of course, it would not be a Lawyers Who Care event without inclusivity, which extended to our catering as we ordered pizza (because who is really full up by canapes?). We also set our dress code to 'comfortable' as we want to emphaise that networking can become more inclusive by allowing people to feel more comfortable in their clothes.
We also ensured care-experienced lived eperience speakers were supported and refined their speeches to barriers into law, rather than their backgrounds, as we are mindful to never re-traumatise speakers. To this effect, Lawyers Who Care even has a Lived Experience Speaker Policy to protect care-experienced people from the psychological exposure sharing your story can produce.
Lawyers Who Care is also putting care-experienced collaboration at the heart of its leadership.
We collaborated with the fantastic Madlug charity which provides luggage to care-experienced young people, working against the practice of Local Authorities' putting care-experienced people's belongings in black bin bags to move them into care. Our Madlug x Lawyers Who Care tote bags were given out to all mentors alongside copies of Rebekah Pierre's excellent book Free Loaves on Fridays (2024) which beautifully complies 100 care-experienced voices into an anthology.
'Spire Barristers recognise the important work of Lawyers Who Care in ensuring that the legal profession is an accessible career for care experienced people. Spire Barristers core values are about recognising the unique contributions lawyers from diverse backgrounds make to the legal profession and in ensuring that there is equality of opportunity for those from backgrounds who may find accessing a legal career more difficult. Being part of an organisation supporting care experienced aspiring lawyers is an exciting opportunity for Spire Barristers and we look forward to being part of Lawyers Who Care’s ongoing success.' - Spire Barristers
GET INVOLVED:
Experiencing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)? - make sure you/your firm/your chambers, gets involved in our next cohort of mentorship organisations by emailing info@lawyerswhocare.org or reaching out via our website contact forms.
You can be a part of our movement too. Reach out today. #LawyersWhoCare #CareLeaversCan
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