A national law firm has joined forces with the Scottish Ethnic Minorities Lawyers’ Association (SEMLA) to help promote diversity within the Scottish legal sector.

Aberdein Considine and SEMLA are hosting an event which is designed to provide aspiring lawyers with an insight into private practice as part of a drive towards encouraging more individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds to consider a career in the Scottish legal sector.

SEMLA was founded in 2017 with the support of the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates, and focuses on the support of ethnic minority lawyers and law students in in Scotland. The group collaborates with some of the country’s largest law firms, providing members with opportunities to connect with firms and organisations to increase access to the legal profession.

The event, which is being held at Aberdein Considine’s flagship legal office in Edinburgh, is being hosted by Naeema Sajid, a founding member of SEMLA and Family Law Partner with Aberdein Considine in Edinburgh.

She is a Law Society accredited specialist in her field with wide ranging experience of dealing with all matters relating to family law. Prior to joining private practice Naeema trained with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and served as a PF Depute for a number of years. Naeema is also a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Family Law subcommittee.

A number of senior lawyers from Aberdein Considine’s Edinburgh office, including Euan McSherry, Head of the Dispute Resolution team, Sally-Anne Anderson, Employment Law Partner, James MacKinnon, Head of Private Client and Sean MacMillan, Property Partner, will share their personal and professional journeys, followed by a Q&A session as well as an opportunity to network.

Commenting on the event Naeema said: “The legal sector in Scotland is amongst the most respected in the world and it’s vital we continue to provide encouragement and support for young people to enter the profession and progress within it, regardless of their background.

We can all do more to ensure that the best and brightest see the law as a preferred career option, and this event should open up opportunities for attendees to connect and hear from some of Scotland’s most experienced legal professionals.”

Usman Tariq, an advocate at the Scottish Bar and fellow SEMLA committee member, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Aberdein Considine. This event will provide an insight for our members into the different types of careers in private practice by hearing from leading practitioners in their fields.

“This knowledge will be invaluable for our student members when they come to decide their own futures in the profession.”

The event will take place at the firm’s office in Multrees Walk on Thursday 25^th July.

Reservations are essential as space is limited and anyone interested in attending can register at

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-insight-into-private-practice-in-collaboration-with-semla-tickets-64166944057 or by calling 0333 00 44 333.