A SOLICITOR is on a mission to inspire the legal profession to provide greater encouragement and open up opportunities for the next generation of lawyers.

Dynamic Amanda Adeola, an associate at BHP Law, in Darlington, is hoping to help kickstart the careers of aspiring professionals by starting a new network for law students, graduates, trainees and newly qualified solicitors.

She has begun by hosting a discussion session following an open invitation on the professional social platform LinkedIn to anyone interested in, or already pursuing, a career in law.

For those in employment, she has also launched the hashtag #meetayounglawyer on the network to showcase young professionals and inviting them to share their experience to help others.

She said: “I receive many requests from aspiring lawyers asking for advice and talking about being rejected for work experience and training contracts. It’s so disappointing and disheartening to hear about their struggles and I’ve always tried to respond by saying ‘don’t give up’.

“However, I started to think that while encouraging words are all well and good, I could do something more constructive to help and, at the same time, give something back to our industry.

“I’ve only been at BHP Law for six months but it’s been really refreshing to work in a firm that’s willing to give me the freedom to run with my ideas without limitation and where there is a culture of supporting young lawyers.”

As well as supporting younger people, Ms Adeola has also become the regional representative of the North East Women Lawyers and Mothers Network.