Black History Month Q&A with SOCAL Chair & Founder

Akima Paul Lambert is an inspirational force in both the UK and Caribbean legal community. She is the first black partner at Hogan Lovells and a University of Cambridge graduate. This Black History Month we are highlighting her special contribution to the profession.

Personal Journey & Career

Tell us a bit about your Grenadian upbringing.

I was brought up in an extended family household, by a single parent mum in one of the smallest villages in Grenada (itself one of the smaller countries in the Caribbean). I always say, that even though per capita, we did not have very much, I felt privileged and rich. My community was rich in expectations for me. I was expected to excel and exceed which is one of the greatest gifts I have been given in my life. As I reflect on Black History Month, I believe that it helped me tremendously to live in a society where no limits or burdens were placed on being black. My Prime Minister was black, our lawyers were black, so were our doctors and teachers. There was therefore no ceiling placed on what I believed I could do.

Your journey from Grenada to becoming a partner at Hogan Lovells is an inspiring one. What motivated you to pursue law, specialise in litigation and how did your Caribbean roots shape your career path?

I was motivated to pursue law when I realised that I really enjoyed both written and oral advocacy. I later felt compelled to be a lawyer when I watched Celia Clyne KC (deceased), a mother of five and formidable giant of a lawyer, defend her client in court when I was a student. She was unmatched. There was nothing I wanted to do more. I knew if I got into law, I would be a litigator as I wanted that direct contact with Lady

Justice. My Caribbean roots have been integral in shaping my career path as I was encouraged to be vocal, expressive, and to form opinions. My school, St Joseph’s Convent, had a strong heritage of raising women with voices and I am lucky that I had this exposure at an early age.

As one of the 1% of black law firm partners in London, what challenges have you faced and overcome to reach this significant milestone? Do you feel being Caribbean has presented any unique obstacles and/or opportunities as well?

Many of the challenges I have had have been cultural. An outspoken girl from the Caribbean is not often seen as the right fit. I didn’t often know how to read the room and to be strategic in analysing social and cultural cues in the workplace and how to form alliances that would help me to progress. I have always had an accent and while this may have presented some challenges, I think the far greater challenge was learning when and how I should deploy my voice.

Founding of SOCAL

What inspired you to establish the SOCAL, and what vision did you have when starting this organisation?

I was inspired to start SOCAL when I realised that Black Caribbean students and lawyers were the minority within the minority. They were not visible enough at the application stage and I was also not seeing people from Caribbean heritage as I progressed. I wanted to bring us all together. I was also slightly in awe of the British Nigerian Forum and the equivalent Ghanaian organisation (the British-Ghanaian Lawyers Union) – I wanted to make sure we had a legal community for us. I was shocked that we didn’t have this space given the impact of Caribbean legal luminaries in the UK who had long fought for social justice.

I also want to outline that although SOCAL celebrates and wishes to be a forum for people of black heritage, it is deliberately not exclusively so. We wanted to make sure that we provided a home for Caribbean people of diverse ancestry and also for those who worked in the Caribbean. It is an imperative for me that we all come together to network and provide opportunities for each other.

What are you most proud of thus far re SOCAL?

Am I allowed to say everything? I love the diverse community we have brought together. I am very proud of the mentoring programme where we actively help students with application forms and interview techniques. This is what creating legacy is about.

What impact do you hope SOCAL will continue to have on the Caribbean legal community in the UK and beyond?

I hope that SOCAL continues to bring us together, and that we can continue to highlight issues and initiatives that affect the Caribbean community. I would like us to be a think tank and a resource so that injustices like Windrush never happen again.

Diversity and Inclusion

You have a strong passion for diversity and inclusion, particularly around race and gender. What changes have you seen in the legal profession in terms of diversity, and where do you think more work needs to be done?

When I left Hogan Lovells in 2005 I was the most senior black lawyer at 2PQE. Now we have over 30 black lawyers. Similarly, there are many more women in senior level positions. When I joined a US law firm, there were no female partners. Now I see at least four. And this is only in ten years. I think changes are afoot in diversity particularly at the hiring stage and at the retention stage. I think more work needs to be done on creating a positive culture where all can thrive equally.

What advice would you give to young Caribbean women aspiring to enter law or other traditionally underrepresented fields?

Sometimes you have to be the thing you cannot see. It is easy to see all the hurdles. But we must also see the opportunities and the finish line. Work hard. There is no substitute for hard work and the currency of excellence will never be obsolete.

UK Black History Month

With October being Black History Month in the UK, what does this time of reflection mean to you personally, especially as a black Caribbean woman in the legal profession?

It means a lot to me that we can celebrate the contribution of people of African and Caribbean heritage to the fabric of the UK. I think a lot about how I can make this month-long celebration mean more. This year at Hogan Lovells it has been about raising funds for a community organisation and preserving the wisdom and legacy of our culture through publication of a cookbook of family recipes that we can keep all year.

As a black Caribbean woman in the legal profession, I like to ensure that all we do in this month assists with and aligns with our year-long efforts.

Who is your role model and why?

I do not have a single role model. I have many people that I respect and admire greatly. I really admire Mia Mottley and the leadership role she is playing in Caribbean and world politics. I also greatly admire legal luminaries like Lady Hale who has fought for diversity on all fronts in one of the most conservative institutions - the UK Supreme Court. I look up to my mum for her equanimity and her hard work and resilience. I also had deep respect for two of my teachers at St Josephs Convent- Sr Gabrielle Mason and Ms Margo Dubois.