In January, Foot Anstey was delighted to welcome students from the UWE Futures programme for the second year running. Delivered in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE), the programme provides a one-week internship and mentoring opportunity for students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Why UWE Futures matters
UWE Futures aims to widen access to careers in law by connecting students in the South West with meaningful, real-world experience. The initiative supports our commitment to building diverse emerging talent pipelines and forms part of Foot Anstey’s broader Responsible Business strategy.
This year, we were pleased to host two students – one in Finance and the other in our Talent Development team. Alongside their time at Foot Anstey, they also attended development sessions hosted by law firms across Bristol.
Elijah Lazaro, Economics, UWE, said: “The UWE Futures programme was my first real opportunity to see finance in practice, particularly within a professional services and law firm setting.”
Mattea Aitken, Law with Criminology, UWE, said: “This [opportunity] would allow me to get an insight into life and work within a law firm whilst also developing my skills to help pursue a future legal career.”
Law firm life and learning in action
Both students described the week as hands-on, immersive and genuinely reflective of life in a professional environment. At the same time as experiencing the type of work a role in a law firm might involve, they were also immersed in our culture – one that blends professionalism with approachability.
Elijah commented on his experience: “Compared to my previous work experience, this placement felt far more immersive. I was involved in the work and conversations behind it, not just observing. The finance team were approachable, open with their time and happy to explain concepts clearly. I was encouraged to ask questions and join discussions.
I remember seeing the values on my first day, including the phrase ‘refreshingly human’, and across the week I genuinely saw what that looked like in day-to-day interactions.”
Thank you to all the colleagues, partner firms and those at UWE Futures who helped deliver another successful week of work experience for students in Bristol.
Find out more about early careers at Foot Anstey by visiting our Early Careers pages.
Related
