Oxford: Blake Morgan gives young people a taste of life in a law firm

Young people were given valuable work experience and insight into life in a legal career when they took part in the ‘Growing Ambitions’ scheme run by Oxford law firm Blake Morgan.

Now in its fourth year, the scheme sees the firm working in partnership with local social-housing associations to offer week-long placements to local teenagers during the school summer holiday.

This year’s scheme involved four participants nominated by Vale of Aylesbury and Cottsway housing associations. They shadowed trainee solicitors for three mornings of work experience, listened to talks from a barrister and police officer and enjoyed trips to Oxford Brookes University and Oxford Combined Courts. They were also given advice on the CVs, interview techniques and presentation skills.

The scheme is designed to break down some of the barriers to a career in the legal profession, but also to give the teenagers experience of office life of non-legal roles such as support staff, HR and marketing.

William Downing, Blake Morgan employment-team partner in charge of the scheme for the Oxford office, said: “As a top 50 UK law firm with a significant presence in the social housing sector, we are very proud to have introduced the award-winning ‘Growing Ambitions’ programme.”