Caroline Flanagan

It’s hard to progress your legal career when you’re the only one in the room. When there’s no one who looks like you. When there are no role models. When you’re invited to attend but no one includes you. When you speak but no one hears you. How can you be authentic when the messaging around you says you have to look a certain way, talk a certain way and be from a certain background? How can you build connection with people who are so different to you? Who are perplexed by the difference of you and make all these assumptions about you. Who don’t even know your name. When you’re the only black lawyer or one of few in the room, it’s easy to think you don’t belong. It’s natural to question whether you’re enough. It’s tempting to give up hope and look for a way out. You think you can’t make it. But you can. You can be who you can’t see. You can be the first. I was the only black pupil in an all white school (twice) and was made head of school (twice). I was evicted from our council flat weeks before my A levels, and I got into Cambridge where, against the rules, I moonlighted as a waitress while my peers spent their time rowing and drinking in bars. I applied to 5 law firms for training contracts and got training contract offers from all of them. I spent 9 years as a finance lawyer (Allen & Overy, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton) where I was almost always the only person of colour in the room. I’ve written 2 books. I’ve worked with some of the most recognised law firms and companies in the world. I am a black woman from a low socio-economic background who learned how to be who I can’t see and did it over and over again. You can too. All you need is the confidence to be the first. To stand out from the crowd. To know your value and lean into your potential. We will teach you how and coach you every step of the way. So you can continue the career you worked so hard to build. Book a call with Caroline to find out more. Link below