Twenty three of the UK's top law firms have demonstrated their
commitment to increasing social mobility by signing up to take part
in a new work experience program, aimed at improving the prospects
of young aspiring solicitors from less privileged backgrounds.
The initiative, entitled PRIME, has been created by A&O
Senior Partner David Morley in a bid to provide under privileged
young people with a better opportunity of embarking on a career
within the legal profession. Open to students between the years of
9 and 13, the scheme promises to provide participating students
between 30 and 35 hours of high quality work experience.
Participating firms have been set high targets amidst the launch
of the scheme, as the number of placements offered must exceed 50%
of the number of training contracts that they have offered in that
year. Furthermore, the entire scheme aims to provide over 2,500
places to students each year by 2015.
The prospect appears to be a great move for the UK's legal
sector as it aims to tackle not only social mobility issues but
also the problems caused as a result of the current economic
situation. It also works towards placing the legal sector high
in public opinion, being the first profession within the UK to
offer a mass scale work experience scheme.
Founding firms include Addleshaw Goddard, Eversheds and Trowers
& Hamlins, with many more anticipated to join the
scheme.