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28 September 2007

RED LETTER DAY for BLACK LETTER LAW

A GROUND-BREAKING publication showcasing black and ethnic minorities in the legal profession will be launched on 4 October 2007 at the world’s largest law firm, Clifford Chance.

The publication, called Black Letter Law, highlights the achievements of notable black and minority ethnic lawyers - past and present - in a bid to urge future lawyers to break through barriers and enable them to reach their potential.

The publication has 11 sections, including Legal History and Legal History in the Making, partners in the UK top 100 law firms, Queen’s Counsels, judges, General Counsels and Directors/Heads of Law in the public sector. The section on Legal History features Mahatma Gandhi, who was called to the English Bar in 1891, and another on Legal History in the Making includes Nelson Mandela, who was elected an Honorary Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 1994 and made an Honorary Queen’s Counsel in 2000. Similarly, today’s “stars at the Bar and solicitors” are profiled, showing their route to the top of the law ladder in the 164-page fact-filled book.

BLD (Black Lawyers Directory), which published Black Letter Law, was established in 2006 as the UK’s first guide to black and minority ethnic lawyers. Oba Nsugbe QC said of the publication, “The importance of a publication such as this should not be underestimated.

In an unforgiving profession which places a premium on competition and individual excellence it becomes all the more important that we pause regularly to recognise our collective achievement and progress. Black Letter Law does exactly this.”

Its founder, Debo Nwauzu, herself a solicitor (non-practising), said: “Whilst we still have some way to go, it is important to highlight and celebrate diversity in the law. Black and minority

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ethnic lawyers are making history every day, with very notable examples, like the appointment

of Baroness Scotland as the first black and first female Attorney General this year. I am

excited by this and other achievements showcased in the Black Letter Law publication, particularly as it serves as an inspiration for us all and raises the aspirations of this generation and the coming generations. At BLD we are committed to showcasing the huge wealth of legal talent available and making it visible across the whole profession. Increasingly all strands of the profession are realising that a diverse workforce is essential for commercial success. We are delighted to be launching this publication in Black History Month and hosted by with Clifford Chance for the second successive year. ”

Britain’s top-ranking black judge, Mrs Justice Dobbs, will be the keynote speaker at the launch. Peter Herbert, Chair of the Society of Black Lawyers (SBL), and Sibghat Kadri QC, one of the founding members of the SBL in the 1970s and its first Chair, will also be speaking at the event. They will be joined by others from across the profession, as well as students and trainees at the start of their legal career. Jeremy Sandelson, Clifford Chance’s London Managing Partner said of the event, “Clifford Chance is delighted to partner with organisations such as BLD to promote and support diversity throughout the legal sector - as a global business, our firm has long recognised the tremendous benefits that come from working with people from all backgrounds."

BLD exists to highlight and promote diversity in the law and provide a forum for networking and mentoring opportunities for the next generation. As well as providing an online community for lawyers themselves. Its website - allows the public and businesses to find lawyers in addition to providing employers with a dynamic tool to support their diversity recruitment strategies.

Every month BLD profiles individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the legal profession. During October, visitors to the website can read interviews with Tim Proctor, the global General Counsel for Diageo and Mrs Justice Dobbs.

BLD also runs the Legal Gateway Scheme in order to widen access for ethnic minorities into the legal profession. It has joined forces with organisations that include DLA Piper, Barclays Bank, Lovells, Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance, Shoosmiths, Olswang and BPP School of Law, to create two new programmes. Called

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Today’s Children and Tomorrow’s Lawyers and the Legal Launch Pad, the programmes are aimed at those aged 13 to 17 and 18 and over respectively.

Note to Editors:

Black Letter Law will be distributed, free of charge, to many organisations but extra copies will retail for £25.

Individual lawyers and organisations with at least one black and minority ethnic lawyer can join BLD free of charge by registering their profiles online. Law firms and other employers of legal professionals are also invited to get involved, as Legal Gateway sponsors and by taking advantage of the unique opportunity BLD will offer them to target their recruitment advertising to attract the brightest and best minority ethnic legal talent. BLD aims to empower lawyers to build successful careers and support employers who are keen to develop the diversity of their organisations. By bringing people together, it will help shatter glass ceilings and expand diversity in all areas of the profession.

Black and minority ethnic solicitors make up 9.7% of all solicitors on the roll but the picture is changing – 32.4% of law students and 17.5% of trainees are from minority ethnic groups. However, minority ethnic solicitors in private practice earn less on average than their white counterparts and are more likely to work in smaller firms. At the top of the profession only 21.5% of black and minority ethnic solicitors are partners in their firms, significantly fewer than the 31.8% of white solicitors. Source: The Law Society, Minority Ethnic Groups fact sheet

11.2% of all barristers are from minority ethnic groups with a greater proportion working in employed positions than self-employed. Source: The Bar Council, statistics

Contacts:

Debo Nwauzu: 07713 987 833/0845 601 8339; debo@

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News release

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