Leading UK and Irish firms launch work-experience diversity initiative

Twenty-three UK and Irish law firms have signed up to a new diversity initiative aimed at improving social diversity within the legal profession. The programme will provide work experience in law firms for school children from non-privileged backgrounds. The program, dubbed ‘PRIME’, was initiated by Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Slaughter and May, Hogan Lovells, Herbert Smith and Norton Rose. It aims to provide 2,500 work experience places annually by 2015. A&O senior partner David Morley commented: "It is harder now than it was 30 years ago to get into the legal profession if you're from an average or below-average income family. As a profession, we must change that. By collaborating across the profession, PRIME will create a step change in the legal sector's commitment to fairer access, giving more students their first insight into the wide variety of career opportunities available in the legal sector. I would urge all law firms to join us in supporting PRIME."

Leading UK and Irish firms launch work-experience diversity initiative legalweek.com Wed, Sep 14, 2011