Our People

Opening access to our profession

Having done his research and “quite a lot of work experience” in secondary school, Antony Vundi knew that his goal was a career in the legal profession, and that he wanted to get into the profession as quickly as possible.

Antony also knew that as someone from a working-class background an apprenticeship made perfect sense: “I could have university paid for, earn a salary and do what I love so much faster.”

Antony is now halfway through a six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship at Charles Russell Speechlys, supported by an internal network that includes a dedicated Apprenticeship Partner, Louise Ward – who says she is “immensely proud” of the programme. “As a Firm, we understand that university may not suit everyone and we want to offer a variety of opportunities to ensure we attract the best talent possible and support different learning and working styles.” Antony has experienced a variety of seats and will have the chance to sample more so that at the end of the process he’ll not just have the necessary academic qualifications to move forward in legal profession, he’ll know what subject area suits him best.

Having been on the receiving end of a programme that offers a way forward for non-traditional candidates, says Antony: “I promised myself that the moment I get to a senior role I'm going to drop down a ladder for everyone else”. He’s already started, for instance by supervising six students across our recent work experience week as part of our Career Start Talent Pipeline Programme.

A career head start

We launched Career Start Talent Pipeline Programme in 2019, acknowledging the urgent need to knock down the barriers that stand between people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and pursuing a career in law. The programme is currently working with 64 students (starting at Year 12), who have received mentoring or work experience as well as skills-based workshops, all aimed at preparing them for the world of work and giving them insight into the many different career paths, legal and non-legal, in the legal sector.

Our five-year programme provides tailored interactions at key milestones in the students’ academic and professional journey. Although designed to be face-to-face, we’ve successfully moved the programme online to cope with COVID-19 and added to it, with the launch of Career Start Connect. This lets us engage with an even wider pool of students, providing employability advice and insights to encourage a broader interest to the Firm and, more widely, the legal sector. We’re now extending the programme to our Guildford and Cheltenham offices and expect to have 150 participants at any one time by 2023.

We’re also learning more about the challenges faced by some students and how to widen access to the sector as one of only 15 firms participating in the Rt Hon Justine Greening’s Levelling Up Law project, aimed at improving social mobility in the legal sector.

Senior support

Championing all of this activity is our Social Mobility Partner, David Savage, supported by a newly created Social Mobility Committee. Together, they’ll support our programme of social mobility initiatives, including staff engagement and student development. “At the end of the day,” says David, “there is nothing more satisfying than helping to develop young people into interesting and stimulating careers. We are committed to all our roles being open to every person with the ability to thrive and benefit from a career at Charles Russell Speechlys.”

“We are committed to all our roles being open to every person with the ability to thrive and benefit from a career at Charles Russell Speechlys”

– David Savage, Social Mobility Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys

72nd

The firm ranked 72nd in the 2020 Social Mobility Employer Index

38

new student recruits across our UK offices is the annual target for our Career Start Talent Pipeline Programme.

Alumni • Legal Notices • Accessibility • Privacy Notice • Fraudulent or 'scam' communication • Complaints Procedure • COVID Secure Certification • Pricing Information