First Eid lunch for Scots lawyers held

The first Eid lunch for Scots lawyers was held in Glasgow on Saturday 6 August. The event, which was hosted by advocate Usman Tariq and co-sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland and Faculty of Advocates, was attended by many ethnic minority lawyers and law students.

The event served as the first step towards a formal launch of a networking and support group for ethnic minority lawyers in Scotland later this year. The Scottish Ethnic Minority Lawyers’ Association (SEMLA) is to be supported by the Law Society and the Faculty.

At the event, Mr Tariq explained: “The idea for a networking and support group for ethnic minority lawyers has received an enthusiastic response from the profession. Both the Law Society and Faculty of Advocates have provided invaluable support. I would like to express my gratitude to them for sponsoring this event.

“We will be working with them towards the formal launch. The group will have a number of objectives including a mentoring scheme that will bring together junior members of the profession from ethnic minority backgrounds with more senior members of the profession. There is a lot of excitement about the future of the group as it will help the development and progress of ethnic minority lawyers in the profession in Scotland.”

Mungo Bovey QC attended on behalf of the Faculty. He said: “It is important that the legal profession reflects the community as a whole both in terms of those who participate in it and those whom it serves. The Faculty welcomes the initiative to set up a group to provide mentoring and networking opportunities to members of ethnic minority communities who are lawyers or aspiring to join the profession.”

Rob Marrs, head of equality & diversity at the Law Society, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and the Society is extremely happy to support the Scottish Ethnic Minority Lawyers’ Association. In recent months, we have seen groups such as Women In Law Scotland, the GLASS network and SEMLA launch.

“These new associations in the profession are crucial – they allow members to come together to promote common interests and provide support to fellow professionals. We are looking forward to working closely with the new association to help ensure our profession is welcoming and open to all: regardless of background, regardless of circumstance.”

If anyone wishes to be part of the SEMLA steering group or support or sponsor the formal launch event, please get in contact with Usman Tariq at usman.tariq@ampersandstable.com.