A decade ago Vinge initiated a Diversity Project in order to inspire young people of foreign origin to choose higher education in general, and law in particular. Since 2002, over 130 scholarships have been awarded for just over SEK 1 million and thousands of young people have gained a greater insight into the many opportunities which the legal profession has to offer. Thanks to its perseverance and targeted activities, Vinge has made a difference for certain individuals although from a wider perspective the process of change is proceeding slowly.
Today Vinge is arranging a seminar on the topic in order to highlight and discuss the issue of diversity and look at how things have developed during the last 10 years. Beatrice Ask will hold a speech and Lydia Capolicchio will, among other things, moderate a panel consisting of Anne Ramberg, Masoud Kamali, Dilsa Demirbag-Sten, Sofia Appelgren and Paul Lappalainen. Furthermore, ethnologist Linda Sturesson will present a report on Vinge's decade-long effort and how society has changed during these years.
- “A decade ago, we asked ourselves why the Swedish legal profession does not reflect the population at large, and we immediately saw an opportunity for us to get involved and try to make a difference,” says Olof Jisland, Managing Partner at Vinge in Gothenburg and one of the initiators of the project. “We are all very pleased with the project and we know that we have made a difference for many individuals. However, on a national level, we feel that progress is too slow, many more forces working together toward the same goal are needed.”
Vinge’s Diversity Project
Scholarships, classroom presentations, trainee positions and theme days
Vinge co-operates with the secondary schools, Ross Tensta and St. Botvids in Stockholm, Angeredsgymnasiet in Gothenburg and Malmö latinskola in Malmö. The primary aims of the project are to offer all pupils at these schools the opportunity to attend lectures and presentations and to be considered for scholarships as well as the opportunity to secure a summer trainee position at Vinge. The students are also given the opportunity to participate in Vinge’s so-called “theme days” where they undertake study visits accompanied by Vinge associates to, e.g. local courts, local offices of the Swedish Prosecution Authority, large companies and Vinge’s offices. The theme days are an appreciated feature of Vinge’s co-operation with the schools and an excellent way of giving the students a practical insight into the working life of a lawyer and at the same time showing them just how diversified the practice of law can be.
A total of nearly 70 legal studies scholarships and 60 scholarships for study enhancement and moral courage have been awarded to students at secondary schools involved in the project. Annually Vinge awards SEK 120 000 within the scope of the Diversity Project and since the project’s inception, over SEK 1 million in scholarships have been awarded. The holders of the scholarships receive, among other things, priority to the coveted summer trainee programme at Vinge.
For questions or more information; My Wiborg, +46 (0)10-614 33 43 / +46 (0)70-429 33 43
