Thank you as always Welsh Government, Working Wales, Learning and Work Institute for sharing my story, an honour to be mentioned during black history month! A case study on my career will be published on Welsh government website very soon😅
Over a decade within the industry I’ve achieved so much before 30. Battling through an industry which was never designed for someone like me.. has been a journey. At a young age I broke through the glass ceiling by being appointed Practice Manager at 21, with the support such a forward thinking, supportive, incredible firm that I called home for 8 years GS Verde Group
Sometimes I think of myself as a unicorn of the industry. But I’m sure I’m not alone, however there doesn’t seem to be a space for us. My route to qualification is unusual with a degree exemption and not holding a degree of any kind. But my ‘degree’ is 10 years long of experience in the field, with 3 apprenticeships under my belt and 2 awards. Did you know that in England, black lawyers only make up 3% of the workforce in firms? As for Wales it’s 0.49%? So now that I have your attention, what are you doing about it?
It’s important to me and a personal mission, that although I maybe one of the first to walk through the door. I will not be the last - DE&I seems to be but such a hot topic but why do the figures remain so low? Are you truly inclusive? It’s 2024, what side of history would you like to be on? How could you say you have contributed?
I have faced a lot of hurdles through career, this being the hardest one. I’m lucky enough to be at a firm that embraces my strengths and encourages me. I am in the best team that I could have hoped for and ready for the next phase of my career at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
They say it takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to raise a black lawyer?
#aspiringsolicitor #sqe #blacklawyer #commerciallaw
We love sharing inspiring success stories of apprentices in Wales, and Wilnelia’s journey is no exception.
At the age of 21, Wilnelia was a Practice Manager at a law firm and soon progressed her career by enrolling onto a ‘Leadership and Management’ apprenticeship with Gower College Swansea.
Always excelling, Wilnelia is now one step closer to pursing her career goals of becoming a qualified Solicitor, with her degree exemption to sit the SQE given her extensive experience in the legal sector. She is determined to help those who feel in any way disadvantaged to believe in their abilities.
To find out more about why apprenticeships are a genius decision, visit: https://lnkd.in/evK2zVm5
Executive Vice President, Managing Director, and Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions Division
3wFrom Waterboy to Starting NFL lineman. Integrity is Joe’s middle name! 😊