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Forging positive change in Stephen Lawrence’s memory
The Freshfields Stephen Lawrence (FSL) Scholarship Scheme aims to address the underrepresentation of Black men from less socially mobile backgrounds in commercial law firms and other City of London careers. It was established by global law business Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with support from Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE. Since 2013, Mansfield has welcomed three FSL Scholars: Joel Semakula (Jurisprudence, 2014), Ajay Mehta-Graham (Jurisprudence, 2021), and Stephen Appiah Kubi (Jurisprudence, 2022). Here, Shukria Rezaei (Communications Officer) talks to them about their journey to Mansfield and beyond.
Has the scholarship changed your outlook on your legal career and the possibilities it holds for driving positive change?
Joel Semakula: Life as a Black man in Law can be lonely, but the FSL Scheme gave me a community of fellow Black men with whom I could share this experience. Everybody in the programme was committed to bettering themselves and those around them. That inspired me then and continues to inspire me today.
Ajay Mehta-Graham: The Scholarship has reshaped my legal career outlook. It has revealed the potential of Commercial Law as a vehicle for positive change. Beyond transactions, I’ve discovered opportunities to contribute to society through pro bono work and other initiatives.
Stephen Appiah Kubi: I discovered that the lawyers at Freshfields drive positive change in the community because they recognise, as lawyers, they hold a special set of skills and have a responsibility to use them. This opened my eyes to why the legal profession should drive change.
Describe a defining moment in your life that inspired your pursuit of law and social justice.
Joel: When I was 12, I gave evidence to a parliamentary select committee arguing the case for a Children’s Rights Commissioner. At the time, this made me part of the youngest group to appear before MPs. That experience introduced me to advocacy and what it meant to fight for social justice. It ignited in me the desire to pursue a career as an advocate.
Ajay: A defining moment stems from personal experiences tied to the Windrush deportations and the ramifications of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Witnessing a close relative facing deportation despite years of law-abiding citizenship in the UK was a poignant revelation. This experience ignited a deep-seated belief in the necessity to be critical of the law, to bring about meaningful social change and justice that benefits everyone.
Stephen: Following my Extended Project Qualification on the extent to which religion was responsible for slavery, I gained an interest in the relationship between morality and the law. This sparked my fascination with the philosophy of law more generally.
How have your fellow scholars and the Mansfield community contributed to your development?
Joel: I had a really pleasant time at Mansfield as a Senior Status student. I made lifelong friends, had some great tutors and appreciated the College’s social purpose, especially the commitment to supporting state school students. The programme allowed me to develop my legal and commercial skills alongside other Black men with dreams as big as mine, and gave me access to mentors at the highest levels of the law.
Ajay: The Scholarship not only provided financial support but also immersed me in a community of like-minded individuals at Mansfield. Being surrounded by fellow scholars has been transformative, creating a dynamic environment where we push each other to excel.
Stephen: My fellow scholars at Mansfield have contributed to my development by helping me navigate Oxford and careers. My college dad, Ajay, has been especially supportive. In addition, the Mansfield community creates an encouraging atmosphere that allows me to learn from the diverse group of people here.
What are your hopes for your career, and how do you plan to use your education to drive positive change in society?
Joel: I am four years into my life as a barrister specialising in planning, property and environmental law. I support several measures that work to improve the diversity of those entering the profession including the Griffin Access Programme at Gray’s Inn, where I am the programme director. I also mentor students going through the process. I have aspirations of becoming a silk and hope my presence within the profession will inspire others from backgrounds like mine.
Ajay: Completing my training in Commercial Law is a priority, but beyond corporate transactions, my passion lies in leveraging the skills gained to address broader social issues. One of my key aspirations is to collaborate with charities and law firms on initiatives aimed at increasing access to the legal profession.
Stephen: I plan to enter the field of Commercial Law, specifically to work in emerging markets where I can make a positive contribution to the infrastructure and economies across the African and Latin American continents. I also aspire to work on improving access to education in Africa.
