Law Society president and High Court judge keynote speakers at UK Diversity Legal Awards

The Black Solicitors Network (BSN) will host its annual UK Diversity Legal Awards, with Law Society president Jonathan Smithers and the Honourable Mr Justice Dingemans confirmed as guests of honour.

Dingemans J played a leading role in the launch of the Inner Temple's diversity outreach programme, the Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS).

The scheme was set up to ensure that students wanting to pursue a career at the Bar had the opportunity to undertake mini-pupillages in chambers, regardless of their background or personal networks.

During his inaugural speech as Law Society president, Jonathan Smithers said that equality, diversity, and inclusion were 'absolutely forefront' of the society's work.

'Our profession must reflect the country as it is and draw talent from each and every part. Social inclusion and mobility are currently in the spotlight. I am proud of the progress we have made over the last decades, but do not in any way shy away from the task ahead, for there is much still to accomplish.'

BBC television presenter and journalist Zeinab Badawi will present the awards this year, which will be held on the 24 November at the Grange Tower Hill Hotel in London.

Now in its sixth year, the diversity awards recognise and promote best practice in the areas of equality, diversity, and inclusion within the legal profession.

The awards welcome submission from firms, chambers, in-house legal teams, and suppliers to the legal profession from across the country and of all sizes.

Submissions are invited that cover one, some, or all aspects of diversity; to include age, faith, social mobility, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.

Among the judges for this year's awards are Abu Bundu-Kamara, director of diversity and inclusion for Pearson plc, and Kim Hollis QC, a barrister at 25 Bedford Row.

At last year's awards, Tunde Okewale, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, was announced as Diversity Champion, while Margaret Casely-Hayford was given the BSN Lifetime Achievement Award.

The deadline for nominations for the UK Diversity Legal Awards has been extended to Thursday 8 October.

Full details regarding the categories and process can be found here.

Matthew Rogers is an editorial assistant at Solicitors Journal matthew.rogers@solicitorsjournal.co.uk