LONDON:
One of the United Kingdom’s leading solicitors is launching a charity to boost the academic potential of young people from under-privileged backgrounds.
Trevor Sterling, whose parents are from Manchester in Jamaica, decided to start the ‘Be The Ladder Foundation’, to celebrate his 40 years in the legal profession, as well as his becoming the first senior partner of African Caribbean descent at a top-100 legal firm.
Be the Ladder Foundation is expected to be launched early 2025. News of Sterling’s project follows on his being awarded a doctorate in law, from the University of Law, for his 40 years in the profession and contributions to social mobility.
The six-month pilot of The Foundation will provide grants, equipment, extra tuition and training in public speaking and school trips for children.
The second stage of Sterling’s project will focus on improving the academic achievements of the cohort.
Commenting on his new project Sterling said, “It is aligned with my mantra, ‘don’t just aspire to climb the ladder, be the ladder’.”
The Jamaican professional added, “If a person breaks through, it’s important to become that ladder to help the next generation.”
The corporate solicitor believes that one of the major challenges faced by youths from a lower socio-economic background is the inability of their parents to successfully navigate them through the British educational system.
Sterling stressed how he believes barriers can be overcome. He said,“We need to break the cycle of poor academic achievement, through the triangle of effective parenting, and teachers who will be the trustees of The Ladder Foundation, and who will help to identify the criteria for the cohort.”
HIS STRATEGY
The 57-year-old, who is at the helm of law firm Moore Barlow, recalled that upon leaving school, his careers teacher gave him three future job options. The prospects presented were becoming a tennis racket stringer, a warehouseman or what used to be described as an outdoor clerk for a firm of solicitors.
Sterling, whose father worked as a builder, and his mother within the catering industry, opted to pursue a career in law, after leaving school at the age of 16.
Recognising the need to improve his communication skills the young Jamaican would verbalise the letters of solicitors he worked with, to enhance his grammar and vocabulary.
The successful solicitor revealed further aspects of his strategy as a budding professional, stating, “I bought a dictating machine and would stand in front of the mirror pretending to be Jonathan Rollins (a black lawyer in the television series L.A. Law).”
Within six years of starting a vocation as an outdoor clerk Sterling qualified as a legal executive, with Rowley Ashworth, a well-known trade union practice. The following year, in 1992, he became a solicitor.
Recalling his initial strides as a legal student, living in south London, the solicitor said, “Every time I passed an exam, I felt I grew an inch taller.”
At 28 years old, Sterling became the youngest and first African Caribbean partner, with Rowley Ashworth.
SEEKING SPONSORSHIP
Emphasising the motivation behind the establishment of Be The Ladder Foundation and reaching out to young people from a similar background to his own, Sterling said, “I want to help other young Trevors who are cognitively-able, but just couldn’t reach their attainment levels at school, due to their social circumstances.
“Unfortunately, social mobility often overlaps with racial background. My view is that if children can be supported as they make the transition, from primary to secondary school, they have better opportunities to excel academically.”
Speaking exclusively to The Weekly Gleaner he added, “Sometimes it’s the small things that can make an impact in the lives of youths, such as increasing their confidence and self-esteem.
“The effect can prevent children becoming disenchanted and looking for status in the wrong places.”
Sterling hopes that law firms across the UK will support his initiative and provide a minimum of one donation to the Foundation.
“A movement needs to be created where the legal sector takes some responsibility to help youngsters,” said the Moore Barlow partner.
Sterling believes that £50,000 in funding will be required to support his Be The Ladder Foundation.
The solicitor is also seeking sponsorship for his U-Triumph Podcast, which shares success stories that especially encourage people from diverse backgrounds.
In the first episode of U-Triumph Trevor interviews Shaun Wallace, a barrister and lecturer famous for his role as ‘The Dark Destroyer’ on a British TV quiz show, The Chase.
On U-Triumph Wallace talks about his journey to fame, including his career as a barrister and the challenges he faced and overcame on the path to success.
Data from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the regulators of solicitors in the UK, reveal that among the law firms with 50 or more partners 0.47 per cent of full equity partners are black. Other research shows that just 90 of the 13,403 partners at large UK law firms are black.
During his career, Sterling has worked on many high-profile matters, including co-leading the Jimmy Savile child abuse cases. He leads the Mary Seacole Trust and spearheaded the work with the Royal Mint to design a £5 coin to commemorate her work.
