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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

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Jan 30, 2024
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Can someone please provide a breakdown of the trump & DEI saga and how that might affect firms and its clients/why this won’t happen in UK. Would like to try to wrap my head around it. Thank you ✨
In a (very small) nutshell, the US has DEI quotas to fill, whereas the UK simply takes candidates’ background into consideration during the hiring process. The former is illegal in the UK bc it is a form of discrimination

Pls correct me if I’m wrong, this is just my understanding :)
 
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yasmars

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Jan 1, 2021
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Zaraa.x

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Oct 23, 2024
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In a (very small) nutshell, the US has DEI quotas to fill, whereas the UK simply takes candidates’ background into consideration during the hiring process. The former is illegal in the UK bc it is a form of discrimination

Pls correct me if I’m wrong, this is just my understanding :)

I’ve just seen K&L Gates recently come under fire for removing several references to D&I since Trump’s EO.


“Elitism” is defined by how exclusionary you can be
Thank you!! So basically in America the DEI targets are purely based on ethnicities so like if your black woman you’ll get the job because said organisation needs to meet its target. Whereas in the UK we have the Equality Act which prevents organisations hiring on the same basis… is that what it is?

So like with the example of K&L gates would clients will start to demand why the removal? Prospective clients would they ask for the firms DEI initiatives and targets (abit like clients who ask about sustainability)?
 

latome19

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Nov 13, 2023
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Thank you!! So basically in America the DEI targets are purely based on ethnicities so like if your black woman you’ll get the job because said organisation needs to meet its target. Whereas in the UK we have the Equality Act which prevents organisations hiring on the same basis… is that what it is?

So like with the example of K&L gates would clients will start to demand why the removal? Prospective clients would they ask for the firms DEI initiatives and targets (abit like clients who ask about sustainability)?
guys I don't know if you've been reading the news at all but DEI has been banned in the US
 

FM302989

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Junior Lawyer
  • Oct 16, 2020
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    Can someone please provide a breakdown of the trump & DEI saga and how that might affect firms and its clients/why this won’t happen in UK. Would like to try to wrap my head around it. Thank you ✨
    Not sure I'd recommend this for a commercial awareness topic to discuss? Plenty going on in the UK commercial, property, corporate sphere to discuss that actually impacts our roles
     

    latome19

    Star Member
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    Premium Member
    Nov 13, 2023
    33
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    Thank you!! So basically in America the DEI targets are purely based on ethnicities so like if your black woman you’ll get the job because said organisation needs to meet its target. Whereas in the UK we have the Equality Act which prevents organisations hiring on the same basis… is that what it is?

    So like with the example of K&L gates would clients will start to demand why the removal? Prospective clients would they ask for the firms DEI initiatives and targets (abit like clients who ask about sustainability)?
    the main difference in my mind is that in the UK DEI is much more subtle and many more times takes the form of "we favoured hiring this person because otherwise none of our trainees/vac schemers would belong to an X category of people". Also in the UK, the majority of US firms don't act in the same way as they do in the US in regard to DEI because historically it's the MC that feel the need to be more socially mobile etc....
     
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    Legalstalker

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    Bread

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    Jan 30, 2024
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    the main difference in my mind is that in the UK DEI is much more subtle and many more times takes the form of "we favoured hiring this person because otherwise none of our trainees/vac schemers would belong to an X category of people". Also in the UK, the majority of US firms don't act in the same way as they do in the US in regard to DEI because historically it's the MC that feel the need to be more socially mobile etc....
    I think in the UK it’s more something like “if X has A*AA from a state school and has been working part time during school to support their family, they might be more talented than Y, who got the same grades at an elite private school while doing nothing else.” At least for graduate entry jobs.

    Whether this happens in practice is another matter
     
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    Zaraa.x

    Esteemed Member
    Oct 23, 2024
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    Not sure I'd recommend this for a commercial awareness topic to discuss? Plenty going on in the UK commercial, property, corporate sphere to discuss that actually impacts our roles
    I think it’s more so for forming opinions and how it will affect UK rather than commercial awareness topic to discuss..

    This could potentially be brought up in a commercial based interview. Just covering my bases.
     

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