Mills & Reeve announces the recipients of its Reach award 2022

With thanks to Birmingham Black Lawyers (BBL) for their fantastic assistance in the selection process, we are pleased to offer the awards to Elicia Maxwell from the University of Birmingham (studying International Law and Globalisation), and Rebekah Boakye from the University of Leeds (studying Law). 

Both recipients will receive a financial bursary of £1000, work experience at a Mills & Reeve office, and mentoring from one of our colleagues. 

In addition to the winners above, due to the high calibre of applicants, we have also chosen runners up who will receive mentoring from colleagues at M&R. 

Dawn Brathwaite, Consultant and D & I Strategic Lead said: “The judging panel were incredibly impressed by the high calibre of candidates for this year’s awards, and our two recipients stood out for their clear explanations of their career aspirations, how they would benefit from the award, their passion for justice and fairness, and their desire to give back to society. I look forward to supporting them this year.  

It is incredibly important to Mills & Reeve that we do all we can to increase opportunities for those from under-represented communities to gain access to the legal profession, and this award continues the work of our Reach network towards this.”  

Previously named the BAME Bursary Award, the award was set up in 2020 and has already supported a De Montfort University student.  

The aim of the award, created by Mills & Reeve’s Reach (race, ethnicity and cultural heritage) network, is to provide two law students attending university in Birmingham, Leeds or Manchester an opportunity to receive a financial bursary, obtain work experience at Mills & Reeve and receive mentorship from the firm. It attempts to support law students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to gain work experience and qualify as lawyers.