Akima Paul Lambert, 2001

Akima read Law at Clare. She is now one of 1% black law firm partners in the city, at Hogan Lovells, specialising in complex commercial disputes. Akima has a special interest in diversity and inclusion particularly in relation to gender and race.

Who was your greatest Clare influence and why?

My greatest Clare influence was undoubtedly Professor Kurt Lipstein.

He was the last survivor of the generation of German refugee lawyers who came to Britain in the 1930s. How his story begins is marked by pain and discrimination - his parents perished in a concentration camp and he was detained as an ‘enemy alien’ under regulation 18b. He also faced significant disappointments and hardship- he missed out on a research fellowship at Trinity and even though he resumed life as a teacher and ran the Cambridge law faculty managing its return from war to peace, it took the University many years to recognise his scholarship with a readership – he only received a chair in 1973.

Yet, in spite of it all, he radiated enthusiasm for the law and for life. He was never resentful and although he must never have forgotten his experiences, he never let it define who he was. He was always joyful and enthusiastic.  He was my supervisor in Roman law and I could still see the glint in his eye as he shouted 'usucapio!,' the answer to most of his questions. He went on to achieve an illustrious career, and what I view as the greatest success of all: doing exactly what he loved and inspiring those after him to do the same.

He inspires me every day to rise above the past and my circumstances and to always seek joy.

Akima's Story

The first time I visited Clare was atypical. I had no idea of the mores and norms that surrounded a Cambridge College. I applied to Cambridge, making an open application and was allocated  Clare (how lucky was I!) I happened to be in the UK for a youth Parliament exercise  in Manchester and having no idea of the distance between Manchester and Cambridge, wrote to the Masters asking whether I could interview. This was entirely out of the milkround season and it is a testament to the spirit of the College that they said yes.

I therefore interviewed in the middle of winter, wearing a summer dress suited for Caribbean sunshine. No one batted an eyelid. So in similar fashion, when I was asked what I thought of shopping trolleys, I did not bat an eyelid. And the rest, as they say, was history.

I realise now that I was very lucky to have Clare as a college. It was the first time I lived outside of the Caribbean and I was extremely fortunate to find such a caring and nurturing environment. It felt cosy, and although I was dreadfully homesick at the outset, the outstanding pastoral care I received and the friendly environment made a big difference to the quality of my experience. I do not think that this was the same across all colleges.

Clare was also special because of the nature of the students it welcomed. The cohort of lawyers that were selected in my year were from many different backgrounds but had one thing in common- they were all kind. They did their utmost to make me feel welcome and included. It is testament to the environment that although not many people looked like me or shared my circumstances, I felt like I belonged.

My time at Clare shaped my career and the person I am today from the outset. During my interview, I was told that they were looking for individuals who would change the world and I believed that. The dedication of the College to the law was evident. We had our own Lipstein Law Library – the only subject who did so- and I therefore felt privileged to be a lawyer. This has continued to the present day- I feel a great sense of responsibility to this profession because of this privilege and the work I do on diversity and inclusion is a direct result of this sentiment.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be not to be defined by your difference. At the outset, I felt I didn’t have a lot to give: what could this large and historic institution obtain from me, a girl who hailed from one of the smallest towns in the smallest parish in one of the smallest islands in one of the smallest regions in the world? However, the way in which my contributions were valued and welcomed made me feel that I had something to give, even in spaces where few people looked like me. This has served me well throughout my life and in my career as a lawyer, and now as one of the 1% of black law firm partners in the City.

I had so many great memories of Clare such that it is impossible to choose just one. However, my most memorable experience at Clare was performing a calypso concert at Chapel, conducted by Robin Ticciati. This is a testament to the way in which diversity was welcomed and celebrated. I mentioned that I sang calypso music in Grenada and immediately, a concert was organised to which all my friends were invited. Hearing calypso music ringing out in the traditional rooms of the College was something I would never forget.