I have been on a few social mobility programmes, and have benefited the most from mentoring.
Having a mentor has been extremely important to my experience in education and future career prospects. It allowed me to remove the gaps I faced trying to enter my chosen career path.
I’ve gained knowledge I otherwise didn’t expect as well as honing my application and interview skills. Mentoring has given me the opportunity to be in contact with people from the law sector and to further understand different possible avenues into the profession.
Mentoring has also provided me with many more opportunities than traditional programs. I’ve been able to access big and international law firms and develop skills on and insights on commercial awareness. I’ve had opportunities to network with a wider community of people.
By Abi Abidoye
Member of our Youth Advisory Board and law student at the University of Leicester.
Regardless of the work I had put in to succeed in this profession, I had fears about being from an underrepresented background. As my mentor reflected my background, it began to alleviate my concerns. Mentoring is a great way to understand the nuances of professional life as well as what that means in the context of your background. This allowed me to find social mobility programs that would be useful to my criteria.
Having a mentor has become a crucial part of my career journey and has given me the confidence to do a lot more than I realised I was capable of. I recommend it for everyone, especially for those who are from underrepresented backgrounds, as it helps you with the gaps in knowledge you didn’t know you had.
