FINANCIAL INSTITUTION PRO BONO DAY 2023
Thank You!
What an incredible day of volunteering it was. A huge thank you to:
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our 187 lawyers and business professionals from 18 financial institutions who volunteered their time and expertise;
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LawWorks for convening 95 representatives from 34 small charities (online);
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Dress for Success Greater London for convening 42 women;
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Westminster Kingsway for rallying 34 students to come along;
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Hatch Enterprise UK for bringing along 22 social entrepreneurs and;
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Micro Rainbow for bringing 12 LGBTQ+ refugees & asylum seekers (online).
And a special huge thank you to Robert Powell at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP whose hurculean efforts made this day possible. Organizing a event of this size is an enormous undertaking and Rob is just the person to see this through!
See below for the full calendar of events.
We are already planning for next year!
IN PERSON: Dress for Success Greater London Career Development Morning
For women who are long-term unemployed and have faced difficult circumstances. The aim is to equip the women with the skills and confidence to re-enter the workplace and secure meaningful employment.
Time
Activity
Description
9.00-9.20
Arrivals
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09.20-09.30
Welcome
Weil Gotshal to formally welcome attendees
9:30-10:15
Speed Networking
2-3 volunteers will host a table and DFS women (candidates) will visit the table and spend around five minutes interviewing the volunteers about their job, their career, and what a typical day in their role looks like. Volunteers are required to put the candidates at ease, share their career journey, and answer any questions they may have.
10:15-10:45
CV Workshop
Working in small groups, volunteers will ask their candidate to talk them through their CV (hard copies will be available on the day) before discussing ways in which they could strengthen it
10.45-11.00
Break
Z
11.00-11.45
Mock Interviews
In small groups, volunteers act as ‘employer’ and interview a candidate for a role. The aim is to simulate a real-life interview and we encourage volunteers to make it as real as possible. Using the candidate’s CV as a guide, volunteers ask a range of competency-based questions and strength-based questions.
11.45-12.00
Wrap up and close
Wider Group Discussion
12.00-13.00
Lunch
A hot buffet lunch will be served for volunteers and DFS candidates
IN PERSON: Hatch Enterprise Support Afternoon
For innovative social entrepreneurs to meet, connect and network with lawyers and business professionals to seek guidance and information to grow their enterprise.
Time
Activity
Description
13.00-13.45
Speed networking - practice for elevator pitch
An opportunity for social entrepreneurs to connect with business professionals, hone their elevator pitch and seek feedback
13.45-14.00
Break
a
14.00-15.30
Legal Clinic
The Legal Clinic brings together lawyers and business professionals with different areas of expertise to provide on-the-spot guidance and information to entrepreneurs with a legal/tech/operational challenge.
Volunteers will be sent the queries in advance along with the names of the businesses and high-level info on the nature of the business’ activities.
15.30-15.45
Break
a
15.45-16.30
Special Interest Groups: Discussions
Volunteers required to facilitate 2 x 20 minute group discussions on one of the following topics:
(1) Intellectual property (2) Hiring/employee issues (3) Data protection and GDPR (4) Non-disclosure agreements and insurance
16.30-17.00
Drinks and networking
All volunteers throughout the day are welcome
REMOTE / ONLINE ACTIVITY: LawWorks Online Legal Training for Charities
Equip small charities and not-for-profits with the legal knowledge to protect and enhance their mission.
Time
Activity
Description
60 minute session between 10.00-15.00
LawWorks: Legal Training
LawWorks is a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay and with the not-for-profit organisations that support them.
LawWorks is canvassing interest from its not-for-profit network to understand which areas of law they would like to receive training on. This could be charity governance, IP, data protection, employment etc.
We encourage any lawyer who is available for one hour between 10.00-15.00 and willing to deliver online training in their specialist area, to sign up for this session.
Weil Gothshall will contact willing volunteers in late March / early April to share the areas of law most in demand.
REMOTE / ONLINE ACTIVITY: Employability Workshop for Refugees & Asylumm Seekers
Provide employability support and guidance to LGBTQ+ refugees & asylum seekers.
Time
Activity
Description
11.00-12.00
Micro Rainbow: Careers Carousel for refugees/asylum seekers
Micro Rainbow provides housing, legal and employability support to LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers. Join us for this online employability workshop entitled ‘Careers Carousel’ for their clients based in the West Midlands/Leeds. Volunteers will speak to clients in small groups so clients can learn about different careers in law and finance.
