Success at the UK’s top two recruiter awards events shows that the legal sector is leading the way in developing and embedding good practice in social mobility recruitment. The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) and TARGETjobs recently introduced new employer awards to highlight excellence in this area. The AGR award was won by Allen & Overy and there were four law firms on the TARGETjobs Awards shortlist – a better performance than other sectors.
But how have City law firms achieved such success for a profession which many people regard as white, Russell Group-educated and middle-class?
In 2009, cabinet minister Alan Milburn published his report ‘Unleashing Aspiration’ which was critical of professions’ efforts to aid and abet social mobility in the UK.
In 2011, 22 law firms and the Sutton Trust launched the PRIME initiative to offer work experience opportunities fairly to all. There are now 80 firms involved.
In 2012, Alan Milburn revisited his Report and said:
“The legal profession is a great example (of working together). If the cycle of unequal distribution of opportunity is to be broken, and the most talented people from all backgrounds are to be given a fair chance, the sector needs to act. And through the PRIME programme this is what it is doing.”
In 2013 and 2014, law firms are recognised by AGR and TARGETjobs Awards as leaders in the drive towards better social mobility recruitment practices.
By working together and sharing information, large and small law firms have put in place robust practices to make recruitment fairer. And PRIME is only one example of what’s happening in law firms. Here are some others that feature in the latest Research Report from GTI Media/TARGETjobs:
- Clifford Chance operates a ‘CV blind’ interview process at their assessment days meaning that assessors are able to evaluate students’ performance without knowing their academic or personal backgrounds.
- Bird & Bird’s Pioneer Programme builds relationships with students from underprivileged backgrounds over a four year period from year 10 onwards and involves work experience, half-day workshops, mentoring and a programme for ‘Pioneer alumni’ after they leave school.
- Norton Rose Fulbright is working with the Legal Sector Skills Council on ‘Get In Get On’, a virtual programme to help 16-19 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds learn more about work as a lawyer and to widen access to the legal profession.
- Linklaters provides around 100 work experience placements per year for a wide range of young people, including those not in employment, education or training.
- Shearman & Sterling runs a mentoring and work experience programme with Walworth Academy and a Business, Employability and Enterprise programme with Wellington Primary School.
- Simmons & Simmons Young Talent Programme works with a school in Walthamstow to provide support for students for up to seven years, from year 10 onwards through school, college and university. Lawyers in the firm volunteer to take part in the programme.
- Allen & Overy’s Smart Start programme is now in its fifth year and has involved over 500 17-year-old students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It provides valuable work experience and mentoring opportunities, enabling students to realise their potential.
The GTI Media Research Report can be found here: http://gtimedia.co.uk/expertise/research-reports
The following people were interviewed for the Report: Laura Yeates from Clifford Chance; Laura Houston from Bird & Bird; Caroline Lindner and Sacha De Klerk from Norton Rose Fulbright; Sharon Jacobs from Linklaters; Victoria Bradley and Katie Meer from Shearman & Sterling; Andy Renouf from Simmons & Simmons and Sarah Cockburn from Allen & Overy.
