Page 7 - Prime - Marking Ten Years

Meet the Board
Sarah Macdonald, Chief Legal Officer, KFC
The most important unlock to success in life is opportunity.
I joined the PRIME Board to help ensure this opportunity is provided to young people regardless of background to enable them to fulfil their potential and career aspirations. Our role
on the Board is to listen, act and amplify work experience programmes and collaboration initiatives to drive social mobility in the legal profession. COVID-19 has hit the groups that need the most support the hardest so PRIME’s work is more important than ever for our future generations of lawyers.
Julie Randles, CEO, Power2
Young people have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and employment prospects are looking bleak. It’s vital that despite all the setbacks we don’t lose sight of the importance of social mobility. PRIME will work to help ensure that progress continues to be made.
Elizabeth Robertson, Partner, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
I wanted to join the PRIME Board because I am absolutely committed to opening up our profession to people from as many different social groups as possible. I have had first-hand experience of how difficult that can be. For me it is all about education and the right guidance. Without that, it can be an uphill struggle. That is what PRIME is all about.
Nick Scott, Managing Partner, Brodies LLP
Our firm was one of the founding signatories of the PRIME commitment and it is a privilege 10 years later still to be working with committed colleagues right across Scotland and the UK as a whole to broaden access to our profession. Much has been achieved but there is so much more still to do.
Arun Sohan-Pall, Trainee Solicitor at Kirkland & Ellis
Being a PRIME alumnus, I know the impact that work experience and engagement with law firms can have. I feel lucky to have come across PRIME when I did. I know, however, that numerous students will not have this ‘lucky moment’ and am passionate to ensure that as many young people as possible can gain exposure to the legal profession.
Chris White, CEO & Founder, Aspiring Solicitors
I joined the PRIME Board because I wanted to help build upon the fantastic work PRIME had completed to assist socially mobile aspiring lawyers since inception. As a first generation, state school educated Essex boy, I have been acutely aware of the challenges and barriers facing socially mobile aspiring lawyers throughout school, college and university. We must remove these challenges and barriers so our profession welcomes the brightest and best candidates irrespective of their social background or differences.
Working alongside our Board, we have also benefited enormously from the commitment, expertise and enthusiasm of a number of individuals who have contributed to our thinking and helped to implement many of our more recent initiatives. There are so many of them but it would be wrong to omit reference to the following:
Clare Harris, formerly of Hogan Lovells Clementine Johnson, DLA Piper
Clare Beavan, DWF
Kirstie MacLennan, Brodies LLP Rachael Warren, Hogan Lovells Deborah McCormack, Pinsent Masons.
PRIME’s work is also greatly supported as well as delivered by our excellent Engagement Consultants, Su Brailey and Millie Patel.