MoFo is proud to have sponsored the 2024 Black Counsel Forum (BCF), which was held on September 27-28, 2024 at De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor, England. This two-day professional development experience brought together Black legal professionals to gain invaluable insights into achieving success, share experiences, cultivate resilience, and join a supportive community deeply committed to advancing the careers of Black lawyers.
Partner, and co-chair of MoFo’s Europe Diversity Committee, Trevor James participated in two panels titled “Accelerating Your Career in Law Firms: Tools and Strategies for High-Performance Associates” and “The Gen Z Effect: Views from Lawyers.”
“Diversity and inclusion have always been a central part of MoFo’s DNA. That’s why we are proud to support the Black Counsel Forum and its mission to empower Black lawyers to thrive. Our goal is to create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels they can grow professionally and make a meaningful difference,” said Trevor.
Other MoFo attendees described the event as energizing and inspiring, allowing them to feel completely at ease but also providing them with practical insights and connections that are directly applicable and beneficial to their careers.
“As a newly qualified lawyer, attending a conference specifically designed for Black lawyers has been an incredibly valuable experience for me. It was the first time I found myself in a room filled with people who truly understood the unique challenges of navigating this career. The insights I gained from their experiences have inspired me to make key decisions and lay a strong foundation for my career,” said associate Brittnie Moss-Jeremiah. “The networking opportunities were also invaluable, and I’ve built meaningful connections that I plan to nurture throughout my professional career. I can confidently say this has been the most impactful start to my career, and I would love the opportunity to attend again next year.”
“BCF24 was the first networking event and conference that I attended where I walked away feeling empowered about the trajectory of my training contract and my future career as a solicitor,” stated trainee solicitor Angela Utubor. “The conference gave me access to around 400 Black lawyers, many of whom I connected with and have maintained relationships with since the conference took place a few weeks ago. Some will act as mentors for me who I can learn and grow from – making me a better lawyer, and others will be a great support network going forward. I met truly inspirational people who have been resilient in their careers and have inspired me to see that I can set goals in my career and take actionable steps to achieve them. This is so important as I very rarely come across legal professionals from similar backgrounds to myself, let alone have access to many as mentors or a support network. Attending the conference next year (and other similar events through the year) will allow me to build on this momentum and receive better guidance for my career at MoFo.”
“I can’t emphasize enough just how crucial it is to see people with similar backgrounds to yourself in the positions that you aspire to be in. City firms can often be lonely and alienating environments for Black lawyers. There is a lot of work being done in the industry to rectify this and MoFo is a great example of a firm that actively supports its minority talent by fostering an inclusive community, but there is still work to be done,” noted trainee solicitor Marissa Oluwadare. “In the meantime, events such as Black Counsel Forum are picking up the slack by providing Black lawyers with a space to support and inspire each other.”
BCF’s mission is to empower Black lawyers by fostering a vibrant community of top Black legal talent committed to mutual enhancement and support in safe and inclusive spaces where lawyers can connect, learn, and share. The organization empowers Black lawyers to take charge of their career journey and ensure they have the support, network, role models, and opportunities to thrive.
