Values into Community Action - Tyler Foundation

Values into Community Action | 2007-2008
Sarah Newman, Pathways to Law student, writes: “The week I spent at Allen & Overy was an amazing opportunity.
I got to meet inspirational people at the top of their careers, go to places I would otherwise never be able to; I had a
fantastic time and learnt a lot. Long may you continue to offer such an outstanding opportunity to young people.”
Those involved in organising and taking part in the week included: Caroline Addison, shabnam Amos, Patrick Arnold,
nicole Bell, Guy Beringer, Melanie Boland, Colin Bole, Amelia Bracken, Adrian Brown, Chris Burkett,
Andrew Castle, shankari Chandran, John Coburn, tim Conduit, Viv Cotes, stephanie Dee, natalie Donald,
Alice Falconer, Richard Freed, James Gallagher, sara George, Zoë Gordon, Ana-Katarina Hajduka,
sasha Hardman, natalie Hill, Bon Joyce, Val Jupp, Ron Kirschner, Hannah Lacey, Caroline Lindner,
Maria Loucas, Bilal Mahmood, Leigh-Anne Males, Jane Masey, Louise Mathews, James McRobbie,
Joanna neale, Claire Poli, nicola Rogers, tobi Rufus, Prashanthy shankar, emma shaw, nicola simson,
tracy smith, tim stewart, sandy tapnack, sophie thomashausen, Ruben Van schalkwyk, Mark Wesseldine
and Jared Zakrzewski.
ReACH DIVeRsItY MentORInG sCHeMe
The REACH Diversity Mentoring Scheme brings together students from the University of London (excluding
Imperial) with our lawyers in the London office. The scheme is open to any student who feels they face particular
barriers to career success, including, but not limited to, disability, age, race, sex, sexuality and religion. The students
are paired with a mentor currently working in their chosen career from a range of different firms and companies,
including A&O, so that they can find out more about the career they are interested in. The mentoring process helps
develop the studentsʼ self-confidence, professionalism and employability skills. It is also an opportunity for mentors
to practise their coaching skills and understand the issues faced by students from underrepresented groups.
One of our mentees this year, a Masters student at Kings' College London, was particularly interested in IP law. He
wanted guidance about whether he could succeed at a career in law despite being registered blind. His mentor, Jaime Lee,
arranged for him to meet with her and IP partner Catriona smith, who had worked with partially sighted colleagues in her
team. They had a very helpful discussion about practising law generally and how disability should not restrict his career
choice. Caroline Lindner in Graduate Recruitment also offered the student follow-up support to discuss training contract
application procedures and the best way to approach the graduate recruitment process. Our REACH mentors are:
Richard Freed, Abbie Grace, Zied Hanayen, Jaime Lee, Mahmood Lone, Joanna Mahood and serena seddon.
sCHOOL GOVeRnORs
Staff can choose to be governors of schools both local to work and home. Through the charity, School Governorsʼ
One-Stop Shop (SGOSS), annual recruitment drives are held for staff wishing to know more and applications are
processed through them.
At a School Governorsʼ One-Stop Shop Reception at the Guildhall in October, Allen & Overy was presented with a
certificate in recognition of exceptional support to the charity. Support given to the SGOSS included reviewing a new
lease for their premises and supplying surplus office furniture.
The following staff are school governors: Wendy Braithwaite, Caroline Brown, Russell Clifford, Dan Cocker,
sara George, tom Levine, nicholas Manassei, John scriven, Ian thomas, Matthew townsend and
Colin Whittington.
BROKeRAGe CItYLInK sCHOOLs PROGRAMMe
Brokerage Citylink works with young people from the
disadvantaged areas surrounding the City of London to
help raise their aspirations by providing an insight into
the various careers in the City and business etiquette
generally. This is achieved by running workshops on
life in the City, recruitment methods, CV preparation and
interview techniques at the premises of City companies
such as Allen & Overy. Each year thousands of young
people leave inner city schools and colleges unprepared
for the intricacies of the current job market, lacking
56 © Allen & Overy LLP 2008