What has the Diversity+ Law Academy done for me?

In this article, we hear from Marco Galindo, one of our Diversity+ Law Academy 2025/26 students about his experience of the academy, what he has gained and learn, and the impact it is having on the progression in his legal career.

Over the past year, being part of the Diversity+ Law Academy has been one of the most transformative experiences of my legal journey so far. When I first applied, I hoped the programme would help me grow. What I didn’t anticipate was just how profoundly it would shape my confidence, my opportunities and my sense of belonging in the Scottish legal profession.

The Academy was created to level the playing field for students from underrepresented and less advantaged backgrounds across Scotland and it genuinely delivers on that mission. Through workshops, mentoring, events and a community that is consistently supportive and engaged, I’ve developed skills that will stay with me throughout my career.

Building Confidence and a Sense of Belonging

One of the most significant things I gained from the Academy was confidence, not just in my academic ability, but in my voice, my story and my place in the legal profession. Coming from a background where the legal world felt distant or exclusive, it’s easy to question whether you truly belong.

The Academy created a space where I felt heard, supported and encouraged to bring my full self into the profession. Through reflective exercises, group discussions and consistent support, I learned to articulate my experiences and strengths with assurance. That shift in mindset has been invaluable, and it continues to influence how I approach new opportunities.

The Academy created a space where I felt heard, supported and encouraged to bring my full self into the profession.

Mentoring That Makes a Real Difference

The monthly mentoring sessions were another cornerstone of my experience. Being paired with an experienced legal professional gave me access to guidance that many students simply don’t have. In my case, I was partnered with the wonderful Lizzie Donaldson. These meetings weren’t just monthly check-ups - they were structured, thoughtful conversations that helped me set goals, reflect on my progress and build clarity around my future career path. Lizzie was brutally honest in all the right ways. She challenged me when I needed it, encouraged me when I doubted myself and helped me understand the realities of the profession with a level of honesty that was both grounding and empowering. She held me accountable too, encouraging me to apply for opportunities far outside my comfort zone even when I wasn’t sure I was ready. For that, I will be forever thankful.

Most importantly, her guidance pushed me to think more critically about my development and to take ownership of my ambitions. Through her support I gained not only confidence, but also a valuable contact for life, someone whose insight and integrity I deeply respect. That relationship played a direct role in helping me navigate applications, interviews and long-term planning with far more confidence than previously had.

Developing Communication and Public-Speaking Skills

The Academy also strengthened my communication and public-speaking skills through a series of workshops and practical exercises. One clear opportunity I received was to take part in a public-speaking workshop, something I would never have imagined myself doing a year earlier. It pushed me well outside my comfort zone, but it also showed me that I was capable of far more than I had given myself credit for.

At the beginning of the academy programme, I was also asked by Naeema to speak at the Academy’s launch event. Standing in front of a room full of legal professionals and sharing my story was a moment of immense pride, and it marked a real turning point in my confidence. These experiences taught me how to communicate with clarity, authenticity and purpose.

Understanding the Profession Through Real Exposure

Another invaluable aspect of the programme was the exposure to different areas of the legal profession. Hearing directly from law firms, in-house teams and public-sector lawyers gave me a much clearer understanding of the breadth of opportunities available. These sessions helped demystify the profession and allowed me to see where my interests and strengths might fit. It also helped me understand the expectations, culture and realities of legal practice in a way that academic study alone cannot provide.

The real exposure offered by the academy also had a positive impact on my networking ability. Networking can feel intimidating, especially for students who haven’t grown up around professional environments. The Academy’s approach to business development and networking was practical, supportive and genuinely transformative. I learned how to build professional relationships with intention and authenticity, not by trying to impress but by showing curiosity, respect and a willingness to learn. These skills have already helped me connect with professionals across the sector and they played a meaningful role in the opportunities I’ve secured since.

These sessions helped demystify the profession ... helped me understand the expectations, culture and realities of legal practice in a way that academic study alone cannot provide.

Gaining Practical Insight Through a Legal Placement

One of the highlights of the programme was completing a legal placement with an Academy partner firm. The team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP have been so welcoming and I cannot thank the firm enough for the support they have given me throughout my time with the Academy. This placement complemented my academic studies and gave me invaluable practical insight into legal work.

It also showed me something I hadn’t fully appreciated before: that there are firms that genuinely care about providing opportunities for the next generation of lawyers to thrive. Being welcomed into a team that valued development, inclusion and potential was a turning point for me. It helped me understand that the profession is not closed off; there are organisations actively working to open doors for students like me. Seeing that commitment firsthand made a lasting impression. It reinforced my belief that I could build a meaningful career in this profession and it gave me a clearer sense of the kind of environment where I could grow and contribute.

Where has the Academy taken me?

The impact of the Academy hasn’t been abstract; it has also translated directly into real, tangible outcomes. I am proud to say that I have now secured a traineeship beginning in 2027 with TC Young LLP, something that once felt out of reach. This achievement is not just the result of hard work, resilience and determination, but is also a testament to the support, guidance and opportunities the Diversity+ Law Academy provided.

Why should firms get Involved?

Law firms often talk about diversity, inclusion and social mobility but the Diversity+ Law Academy is where those values become action. Supporting the Academy isn’t just a charitable gesture; it’s a strategic investment in the future of the profession. Firms gain early access to talented, motivated students who have already demonstrated resilience, commitment and a genuine desire to contribute to the legal sector. The Academy develops students who understand professionalism, communication, client care, and the realities of legal practice because they’ve been actively building those skills throughout the programme.

Supporting the Academy isn’t just a charitable gesture; it’s a strategic investment in the future of the profession.

By getting involved, firms help shape a profession that better reflects the society it serves. They play a direct role in levelling the playing field for students who historically haven’t had equal access to networks, insight events or informal guidance. Supporting the Academy isn’t just the right thing to do it’s the smart thing to do for any firm that wants to build a stronger, fairer and more future ready profession.

Calling all firms and organisations: We are actively looking for more sponsors to support the Diversity+ Law Academy. If you think your firm could help or you want to learn more, reach out to us at hello@diversityplus.info or read more about the academy here.

Are you a student interested in joining the academy? We are now open for notes of interest to join our 2026/27 cohort. Email admin@diversityplus.info with your full name, current student status, and CV by the deadline of Monday, 22nd June. All notes of interest will then be sent further details on how to apply to the academy.

Read how Rachael Bicknell left private practice to explore new opportunities

From commercial litigator to mediator

There are undoubtedly challenges for women working in the law and the evidence of women leaving the profession speaks for itself. There are opportunities too, particularly for those like me, who have found a way to channel their skills, training and work ethic into a new career. As the old adage goes; when one door closes, another opens. This has certainly been the case for me.

In 2019, upon returning from my second maternity leave I finally had the courage to admit that continuing in private practice was unsustainable. I was 12 years qualified and this feeling had been bubbling under the surface for a few years. It wasn’t solely driven by the shift in perspective that comes from life changing events such as having children.

For many years I had dreamed of partnership because that was my definition of professional success. Unexpectedly, maternity leave gave me time and space to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, what I wanted my future to look like and what fulfilled me at work. I was brutally honest with myself. The excitement I once felt for litigation had been replaced by a real passion for negotiation, mediation and keeping cases out of court. I no longer wanted partnership; I wasn’t a team player, I didn’t like managing, training or delegating to people, and I was terrible at “playing the game”, as my peers always put it. I would obviously have made a terrible partner and ultimately, I would have been miserable if I had pursued it. I craved full autonomy and flexibility. For me it wasn’t just about whether I could work a 4-day week. I am, for better or worse, someone who thrives when I have complete control over my working patterns and the freedom to think creatively and explore ideas.

And in the back of my mind were the words of the partner I worked with for many years; “you are a born mediator”. From a born litigator, I had heard that as a backhanded compliment at the time. But in truth it was those words that gave me the courage to resign to give me the headspace I needed to simply think about other options, safe in the knowledge there was at least one person who believed I could be good at something else. So, that’s what I did; armed only with a daydream of self-employment and a life without time-recording.

Luckily for me, during that first week of unemployment, outside Nero, I bumped into an old friend and former colleague I’d not seen in 10 years. A few years earlier he had left corporate private practice to set up a highly successful consultancy business with a very impressive list of clients. Two hours later that serendipitous coffee had set the wheels in motion for what was to become, two months later, Squaring Circles. His words of wisdom had given me a newfound belief that my daydream could become a reality and that I could give myself permission to have a new definition of success.

My successful transition from law to self-employment as a commercial mediator is undoubtedly due to the skills I learned from my 14 years in commercial law firms. The legal profession is bursting with talent well beyond knowing the law. The skills cultivated in legal practice are far-reaching; working under pressure, case management, strategic thinking, problem solving, communication, networking and building relationships, not to mention resilience, unwavering self-discipline and exceptional work ethic. Invaluable skills for any career change and self-employment.

In the cut and thrust of law firm life, it’s easy to forget that a legal background can open many doors and lead to a fulfilling career outside private practice or even the law altogether. I can honestly say there can be a great life after the law.

Rachael Bicknell

Rachael is a commercial mediator at Squaring Circles. She mediates on a broad range of disputes including construction and engineering, professional negligence, real estate, insolvency, and family business related claims. She has mediated disputes with parties from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the USA, Canada and Australia.

Creating Sustainability for a lengthy career in law

The evidence is clear: the combination of structural inflexibility, entrenched workplace cultures, and the invisible burdens of caregiving creates a professional environment in which many women cannot sustain long-term careers in law. The “sandwich generation” pressures, compounded by chronic overwork, emotional exhaustion, billing targets and inadequate mental health support, do not reflect individual weakness but systemic shortcomings.

Unless law firms move beyond tokenistic policies and reactive interventions toward genuinely flexible, preventative, and psychologically informed practices, the loss of female talent will continue to undermine not only individual careers but the profession’s diversity, resilience, and credibility. Supporting women in law is not merely a matter of fairness; it is essential for sustaining a competent and equitable legal profession.

This is the last of our series: from entering to leaving the legal profession, and everything in between.

Thank you for joining us and reading our International Women’s Day contributions. We hope it inspires you to champion gender equality in the legal profession and to actively support the retention, advancement, and empowerment of women lawyers at every stage of their careers, all year round.

To learn more about the services we can provide to help you and your firm reach your gender parity goals, please visit our Look Up and Beyond project website.