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NEC ELEVATE MENTORSHIP SCHEME
On 9th March the North Eastern Circuit launched the NEC Elevate initiative with a clear action plan to:
- Recognise and address the specific issues facing women at the Bar.
- Promote career progression and development for all, regardless of gender.
- Provide targeted, practical assistance across all practice areas, across Circuit.
The flagship of this initiative is a new bespoke and discreet mentorship programme, not just for those applying for silk and judicial appointments, but at all career stages from the grassroots upwards. This memo sets out how to apply and how you can get involved.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT TO ALL?
Mentorship can be beneficial in different scenarios at different career stages. In terms of career progression, mentors can be a more senior or established person supporting a less experienced colleague. It can also be someone who is just a little bit further down the line. It can be of help in getting started, building a career and practice, returning from family/parental leave, juggling career and family, or planning an application for silk or judicial appointment.
Being a mentor provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the ability to work with others and leadership skills which are often needed for Silk and judicial appointments.
WHO IS IT FOR?
We recognise that the issues are different and wide ranging and therefore we are implementing a two-tier mentorship programme.
Category 1
Practitioners on the NEC who are considering an application for silk or the bench, whether in the upcoming round or as part of longer-term planning. The scheme will provide a confidential, supportive conversation with an experienced mentor to discuss readiness, timing and the practical steps that may strengthen a future application. You, the applicant will be matched with a mentor (Silk or Judge) specific to both your goal and your practice area.
Category 2
Those under 10 years call will be matched with a practitioner over 10 years call in their practice area to provide support and assist with career progression and practice development.
HOW IT WORKS
Those who wish to be mentored will need to fill in an application form setting out some basic information. Those who want to volunteer to be mentors also need to complete the same form. Please note that it is possible to apply to be a mentee and also a mentor using the same form. This allows senior practitioners who may be thinking of applying for mentorship under Category 1, to also volunteer to mentor practitioners under Category 2.
Each practice area has a Mentorship Lead:
Crime: Gill Batts KC
Family: Naomi Madderson KC
Civil: Abigail Telford
Each prospective mentor will need to undergo a short session of mentorship training in accordance with the Bar Council Guidance. This is not intended to be an onerous requirement. The Bar Council guidance can be found here: Mentoring-at-the-Bar-guide.pdf
Further details regarding the dates of the training sessions will be circulated once you have made an application. It is anticipated that the sessions will be hybrid, conducted both in person and online to facilitate attendance.
TIMETABLE
- NEC Elevate will offer the Mentorship programme three times per year at the start of each term.
- The first round will be launched after the Easter break.
- Applicants must complete and return the application form by Friday 24th April
- Please use the attachment below to fill in your application
- Completed application forms should be returned to elevate@northeasterncircuit.co.uk
- The NEC Working Group will aim to match mentors and mentees by Friday 22nd May
- You will then receive an e mail setting out the contact details of your mentor/mentee.
PLEASE FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORM HERE
Gill Batts KC
Chair of the NEC Elevate Working Group
