Top City firms are yet to fully convince ethnic minority students that they are genuinely interested in recruiting diverse graduates, the head of graduate recruitment at national firm DLA Piper said last week.


Sally Carthy, speaking at the launch of an initiative to support graduates from diverse backgrounds who want a legal career, said: 'Everyone is looking at diversity and we want to make sure people appreciate that firms do want applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds - there is a perception that we don't.'



DLA Piper, City firm Lovells and Barclays Bank have all backed the Legal Launch Pad mentoring scheme developed by non-practising solicitor Debo Nwauzu, founder of the Black Lawyers Directory.



Some 30 graduates selected from 'non-traditional' universities will participate in the scheme for the next 12 months. They will be assigned a mentor, undertake work placements, and receive training on applications, presentation and interviewing skills, and commercial awareness. 'We are trying to help people navigate through the recruitment process which is not always straightforward, particularly if you don't have a role model to follow,' Ms Cathy said.



Ms Nwauzu added that ethnic minority students tend to be less informed about routes into the profession and often do not become aware of their choices until too late.


Anita Rice