Catalyst is our flagship programme designed to create a more inclusive and accessible legal profession. It brings together a range of initiatives that work towards our firm-wide strategy to improve social mobility at Clarke Willmott and in the Legal Sector. From outreach and mentoring, to skills development and career support, Catalyst empowers individuals from all backgrounds to explore and thrive in legal careers.
Create pathways into the legal sector through outreach, education and support.
Deliver inclusive initiatives like mentoring, paid experiences and skills development to equip individuals with the confidence and tools to succeed.
Embed inclusion across our work and influence wider industry standards. Generate a local talent pipeline through each initiative.
Inspiring the next generation of legal professionals
Our university outreach is all about building meaningful connections with students, sharing insights into the legal profession, and supporting emerging talent as they take their first steps toward a career in law.
The Social Mobility Foundation offer support to aspiring young people who lack the support and/or resources, so that they can achieve their dream career.
We have partnered with the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF), a national charity who focuses on improving social mobility for aspiring young people through their Aspiring Professionals Programme. The SMF offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities for our people to get involved in.
Inspiring futures through early engagement
Our school outreach work is all about opening doors to the legal profession. By partnering with schools and colleges, we help young people explore career pathways, build confidence, and develop key skills through interactive sessions, workshops and careers talks. Our outreach has a particular focus on social mobility ‘cold spots’ to achieve our firm-wide strategy to improve social mobility.
We’re committed to supporting those in our communities to reach their full potential. Our focus is on ways we can improve social mobility for those preparing for the world of work.
Our community strategy focuses on improving social mobility to support those preparing for the world of work.
At Clarke Willmott, we believe people should be able to fulfil their potential no matter their background and it is important to us to help those in our communities achieve this.
We want young people who lack the networks and resources to be able to flourish and achieve their goals and encourage all our people to get involved in our national and local community initiatives.
Our work experience programmes offer students and career changers the chance to gain practical insight into the legal profession. From short placements to immersive challenges, these opportunities are designed to build confidence, develop skills, and open doors to future careers in law.
We’re passionate about connecting with future talent. Our team regularly attends careers events and fairs across the UK to share insights into the legal profession, discuss our early careers opportunities, and answer questions about life at Clarke Willmott. These events are a great chance to meet our people, learn about our culture, and explore the pathways we offer for graduates and aspiring legal professionals.
Women’s work lab focuses on supporting mums facing multiple barriers back into employment by delivering employment skills workshops, mentoring and partnering with local employers.
Clarke Willmott Careers Corner is our dedicated early careers newsletter, designed to keep aspiring legal professionals informed and inspired. Packed with insights, tips, and updates on opportunities, it’s your go-to resource for building a successful career in law.
Hear from some our Catalyst Alumni and creators of the name ‘Clarke Willmott Catalyst’ on what it means to them and its impact.
“Seeing Clarke Willmott Catalyst being adopted has not only changed my perception of law firms, but inspired me to never limit myself.
The Impact Challenge pushed me to think outside the box and understand the importance of collaboration. Together, we leveraged individual strengths to pitch a unique, meaningful and realistic scheme that will shape the future generations of the firm. It allowed me to practically apply what I would want in the future from the sector.
The devotion to such a scheme and welcoming nature, speaks volumes about Clarke Willmott’s culture.”
Param
“To me, Catalyst feels like the right word because it’s about starting something meaningful.
Being involved in the Impact Challenge with Clarke Willmott showed me how a simple idea can grow into a programme that actually makes a difference for people who need it.”
Nashita
“Working on the Impact Challenge with Clarke Willmott has been a catalyst in itself for me – it has allowed me to improve my knowledge on the legal industry and understand the challenges faced by the increasingly diverse junior talent breaking into the profession.
I would like to thank the team at Clarke Willmott for bringing our project into fruition and staying in touch with us along the way.
I truly hope that its future beneficiaries feel the pride, enthusiasm and gain the knowledge exposure I experienced when developing this project.”
Faith
For more information about Clarke Willmott Catalyst and our initiatives:
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