Travers Smith partners with LGBT charity to develop mentoring programme for students

Corporate law firm Travers Smith is partnering with a LGBT charity to develop a mentoring programme designed to empower a new, diverse generation of lawyers.

Travers Smith’s programme is being developed with charity Just Like Us in response to the fact that while many LGBT people are happy to be open about their identity while at university, a much lower number of people feel comfortable about being open in the same way when they enter a professional environment. As the Law Gazette reports, the first year of the scheme will see 25 mentors from Travers Smith work with LGBT university students from across the country to provide advice and help in terms of developing the confidence to be themselves at work, as well as among friends and family.

Daniel Gerring, partner at Travers Smith and chair of the firm’s LGBT network, said: “This initiative is a great example of Travers Smith adding value by sharing our insight and expertise and working in partnership to empower a generation of emerging LGBT talent. The addition of this programme to our extensive portfolio of LGBT projects underlines the firm's continued support of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and wider community.”