The Stephen James Partnership

We urgently need to discuss equity versus equality. ‘Justice is blind’ represents just about the oldest adage in the legal industry, but when we hear this used clumsily foisted upon a Diversity and Inclusion context, we might wince! Ultimately, whilst we can discuss changing hiring practices to be more ‘blind’ through the removal of names or universities from CVs, people have different circumstances. If we are to make effective changes in the legal profession, we need to make active rather than passive adjustments to ensure that diverse talent thrives. Language matters. Equality is the ‘condition’ of being equal whereas equity refers to the ‘act’ of fairness. Equity is an active, doing word and it certainly is not blind. Correspondingly Equity, Diversity and Inclusion needs to be active. A huge amount of law is based around aggravating and mitigating factors, so perhaps this tired adage needs to finally be retired. https://thesjp.co.uk/ Would love to hear your thoughts below. #equalityandequity #legalrecruitment #UKlegal

We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Sackers, on our Black lawyers Matter mentoring and internship programmes.   Black aspiring lawyers face many obstacles regarding access to career insights and coaching.   We launched Black Lawyers Matter, a programme designed to bridge the gap between aspiring lawyers and organisations.   Sarah Pearman, Senior HR Manager:   “We are delighted to continue our partnership for a third year with Black Lawyers Matter on their journey to increasing the representation of Black lawyers in the industry. Providing internships and mentoring support to students who wouldn’t otherwise have these opportunities is just a small part we can play in helping to widen access to the profession. We look forward to welcoming our next intern this summer, who will be mentored by Navina Bagri for the next 12 months”.    Thank you to the team at Sackers for standing up and being counted and supporting us on our mission to increase meaningful Black representation in the legal sector.   To express your interest in joining one of our Black Lawyers Matter programmes as a client or a candidate, please contact corporatepartnerships@thesjp.co.uk.

📣 SJP - H1 Market Report 📣 As many of our clients and candidates will have experienced firsthand, the H1 of 2024 has had its fair share of ups and downs in terms of hiring. As we look ahead to what is set to be a more dynamic market for the remainder of the year, the team at SJP has analysed the trends we have noticed and highlighted key factors to be aware of as we enter H2 in our newly released H1 Market Report. To stay ahead of the market and learn from our key insights, reach out to Lewis Kerr to request your copy now.

🌟#Testimonial🌟 This week's testimonial is a reflection from a mentee on lessons learnt through the course of mentoring. A common theme we notice amongst mentees is building confidence. As such, its always a pleasure seeing them evolve on this through the course of their mentoring relationships. Interested in knowing more? Please reach out to us at corporatepartnerships@thesjp.co.uk #Mentoring #ProfessionalDevelopment #DiversityAndInclusion #BuildingConfidence

Can we talk about this? There’s a BIG difference between corporate virtue signalling and building a robust, diverse workforce, capable of meeting complex modern challenges. https://lnkd.in/eWJTQacT #UKlegal #legalservices #alternativelegalservices #legaldepartments #interimlawyers #inclusiveworkplace #diverseworkforce #legalinnovation

❓ Paralegal Recruitment Market - Candidate Q&A ❓ Join me for an exclusive opportunity to get insights into the current market and gain a competitive edge in your job search! As the head of Paralegal recruitment at SJP I am hosting my first Monthly Q&A session for all current and aspiring Paralegals. This is your chance to seek impartial answers to your questions. Whether you're an experienced Paralegal seeking salary insights or a recent graduate wondering where to start on your job search. To participate, simply register your interest by emailing me directly at lewis.kerr@thesjp.co.uk with the subject line 'Paralegal Q&A'. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to enhance your career prospects! #Paralegal #JobSearch #LegalCareer #CareerDevelopment #QandA

One of our clients, CMS UK has launched two social mobility led programmes - CMS Scholarship and CMS Connect. The programmes seek to open doors to education and career opportunities for individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. It is specifically catered towards 16 and 17-year-olds.   To find out more about the programmes follow the links below: https://lnkd.in/efuen2WQ https://lnkd.in/eVxdtKDs

At The Stephen James Partnership, we believe in the power of having a diverse range of talent, experience, and perspective. https://thesjp.co.uk/ #socialmobility

Our Founder and CEO Samuel Clague will be moderating a panel discussion that includes Trevor D Sterling Sterling (Senior Partner at Moore Barlow), Aldaine Wynter (Director of International Mindedness & D&I, Washington International School) and Justin Placide - Co-Chair of The Civil Service Race Forum. The discussion will be wide ranging and look at racial diversity domestically and internationally. You can find out more and register here: Inclusion Festival – Diversity Network (diversity-network.com)

What if you could invest in truly meaningful L&D for your senior team AND move the dial on social mobility? We’ve found speaking to participants in the Best In Class mentoring programme, that the results have been transformative. Get in touch to book a demo. https://thesjp.co.uk/ #legalservices #bestinclass #sjp #socialmobility #managementtraining #elearning #legalsector #uklegal