Norton Rose Fulbright supports “Get In Get On” initiative as it grows beyond financial sector

Global legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright has partnered with the Financial and Legal Skills Partnership in a unique programme that provides e-mentoring to 16-19 year olds, in a move to create greater accessibility to the legal profession.

The “Get In Get On” initiative is backed by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock and is designed to provide students with career mentors via a virtual platform.

Norton Rose Fulbright is in the first tranche of legal practices to be involved in this programme, which was originally designed for students interested in pursuing careers in the financial sector. This is the first time the programme has been expanded to include mentors from the legal sector.

In March nine lawyers in the London office began acting as e-mentors to students from inner city state schools in and around London.

Sacha de Klerk, diversity and inclusion manager in Norton Rose Fulbright’s London office, commented:

“The level of exposure students have to the legal and financial professions can vary widely depending on where they live. This programme really changes that. We can work with students who don’t have to physically come in to our offices to hear about how we work, and how they can become a part of our practice.

“Through the virtual platform, students and their mentors can communicate in an easy and safe guarded way.”

Sarah Thwaites, Acting Chief Executive officer of the FLSP, commented:

“We are thrilled that Norton Rose Fulbright is sponsoring the Get In Get On virtual work experience programme. By providing mentors and offering strategic steer to this innovative solution, Norton Rose Fulbright will enable us in our vision to widen accessibility to the legal profession. Their trained e-career mentors are inspirational and wholly committed to helping young people reach informed choices about their planned learning and work goals.”

Over the course of the month long programme, students undertake eight skills and knowledge development modules which include topics such as communication, risk and understanding the sector. During this time, e-mentors provide feedback and guidance to the students as they progress through the programme.

68 employers have participated in the Get In Get On initiative to date, including: HSBC; Standard Life; KPMG; Deutsche Bank; Nationwide; J P Morgan; Allen & Overy and Ashurst. Close to 350 students have benefited from e-career mentoring and have strengthened their career management skills.

Norton Rose Fulbright supports a number of initiatives to open up access to the legal profession. The practice is a founding member of PRIME; a work experience programme for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in London. In addition to this, Norton Rose Fulbright has also partnered with Durham University and Ashington Learning Partnership in the North East on a programme providing young people with access to work experience in the legal sector.

Further information on the Get In Get On initiative can be found on the Financial and Legal Skills Partnership website.

For further information please contact:

Europe, Middle East and Asia
Sarah Webster, Head of PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7444 5942; Mob: +44 (0)7725 350 425
sarah.webster@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world’s pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.

Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Australia, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa (incorporated as Deneys Reitz Inc) and Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, each of which is a separate legal entity, are members (‘the Norton Rose Fulbright members’) of Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss Verein. Norton Rose Fulbright Verein helps coordinate the activities of the Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients.