More than 500 aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds took part in this year’s Legal Professional Diversity Summer Scheme. The programme, held online and across Bristol, Leeds, London and Manchester, gives students from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to gain insight into life as a government lawyer.

The week-long scheme saw students take on advocacy exercises, a mock trade negotiation and have discussions with working senior lawyers. The students also shadowed legal work, networked and took part in a mock court exercise.

Caroline Croft, director general of the Government Legal Department's employment with social policy group, shared details of her career – starting as a junior civil servant before retraining as a barrister, initially practising at the criminal bar.

She said: ‘Government law affects almost every part of public life, so it matters that the people doing this work reflect the society we serve. We run this scheme because talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t always, and it’s our job to close that gap.

‘Every year I meet students who arrive unsure whether a legal career is really open to them and leave the week with an optimistic sense of what’s possible.’

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Students also heard from Mel Nebhrajani, director general for the litigation with justice and security group and a group of students were also able to question Government Legal Department permanent secretary and treasury solicitor Douglas Wilson KC.

Gift Beneditha Tsenzughui, who took part in this year’s scheme, said: ‘It’s a great platform because I was able to get to know how people grew up in their career from one sector to another, and how different lawyers work in different departments.’

Maciej Kostusiak, who participated in the 2025 diversity summer scheme and has since become a paralegal at the Government Legal Department, said the scheme ‘came at an important point in my career’.

Kostusiak, an aspiring solicitor, added: ‘I was already completing my law conversion course and working towards a future in law, but the scheme gave me a real sense of what a legal career could look like in practice. Speaking to professionals, hearing their experiences and seeing the breadth of opportunities available helped strengthen my confidence and ambition. Not long afterwards, I joined GLD as a paralegal while continuing my studies.’

The scheme is delivered in partnership with the Law Society, The Sutton Trust, the Society of Asian Lawyers, Black Lawyers Circle, The Social Mobility Foundation and Aspiring Solicitors.