Bright Network Diverse Legal Leaders 2025
Meet Dechert, Macfarlanes & Slaughter and May at Diverse Legal Leaders before application season! 👩🏻⚖️ 👨🏾⚖️
Attend Diverse Legal Leaders and explore what a career in law could look like for you. Connect with leading firms and start building your future in law. See if you're eligible to attend.
Please note that applications for virtual tickets are currently closed.
Date: Friday, 17th October (12:00-17:30)
Location: London, SE1 7GP (nearest tube station is Waterloo)
Agenda: Panel talks, skills sessions and networking
👋 Employers you'll meet | 📸 What to expect | 🤝 DEI&B and accessibility
*Sponsorship opportunities with participating employers may be limited for attendees without the permanent right to work in the UK.
The event is running in a hybrid format, so you can attend virtually or in-person. However, virtual attendees will not be able to network with the employers, so we recommend attending in person. We will share employer interviews to help our virtual attendees gain more insights.
Why attend
Learn how you can break into this competitive sector
Explore pathways into commercial law
Connect with top law firms
Meet with early careers team who are actively seeking diverse talent for training contracts and vacation schemes.
Build your skills and confidence
Take part in interactive sessions designed to help you stand out in applications and interviews.
Who can attend
You’re an entry-level candidate currently studying for your first undergraduate bachelor’s degree, or
You’re pursuing a master’s degree while having completed your undergraduate degree less than one year ago, or studying an integrated masters
You're graduating in 2026, 2027, 2028 (or 2029 if already at university and on a four-year course).
You have a strong interest in Commercial Law
You identify with an underrepresented group
You're on track for at least a 2:1 and can demonstrate academic excellence
You're attending university in the UK (if you'll be attending in person)
Additional skills gained from extracurricular activities/work experience will be viewed favourably
Employers joining us
Schedule
17 Oct 2025
Registration and networking activity
For in-person attendees, this involves chatting to other members in the main exhibition room (standing and walking).
Welcome and keynote talk by Macfarlanes
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Panel: Diverse journeys into law
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Skills session: Demystifying Commercial Awareness: What law firms want and how to show it
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Open networking
A chance for our in-person attendees to network with the attending law firms. Light refreshments provided. For virtual attendees, there are live employer interviews from 2:45pm.
Skills session: Applying for a Vacation Scheme: Interviews
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Panel: Driving change in law
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Graduate success story
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Wrap up and next steps
For in-person attendees, this is a seated session in the main presentation room. For virtual attendees, this will be streamed.
Gallery
Location
Virtual or in person - etc venues County Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 7PB
Frequently asked questions
All timings on the agenda for Bright Network Diverse Legal Leaders correspond with British Summer Time (BST).
Please refer to our FAQs here if you have any queries about attending a Bright Network event in-person.
If you have any questions about attending Bright Network Diverse Legal Leaders as a virtual attendee, we have gathered all the most frequently asked questions here. Please note that for this event, if you attend virtually you will not to be able to join the networking sessions.
For information on inclusivity measures at the event, take a look at the Diverse Legal Leaders resource hub.
You can also take a look at our Support Hub for further questions. If you require anything else, please get in touch with our Events Team - [email protected].
To confirm your place at the event, you may be contacted by call or text by the Bright Network team. Please make sure your details are all correct and up-to-date on your profile.
Photography and videography will be taken at the event.
Travel reimbursement:
We are committed to ensuring every Bright Network member has the best start to their career. Thus, we want to help as many of our members attend our events as possible. Because of this, we are offering to support members who would otherwise be unable to attend with a travel reimbursement towards their travel (public transport only). However, please note that reimbursements are granted on a case-by-case basis and will be prioritised for those most in need. More details on how to apply for travel reimbursements will be sent to you if you secure a place at the event.
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