Linklaters has published statistics showing the diversity of all those who applied to the firm for the UK Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts during 2011.
The publication of this data follows previous information Linklaters has released on social mobility, faith, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender and disability for lawyers in the UK, as well as global gender statistics for the whole firm in July 2011. Similar statistics will now be released on an annual basis.
Linklaters Global Diversity Manager, Felix Hebblethwaite, said:
“We’re proud to have led the way in publishing figures on the diversity of our people. We realise we have much more to do to level the playing field for prospective graduate lawyers, but we are confident that we are moving in the right direction.”
As part of a separate initiative to monitor and encourage social mobility, Linklaters last week held its first Learn for Work work experience programme in conjunction with the College of Law. The young people attending the programme have been selected by the Brook House Sixth Form College, Clapton Girls’ Academy, Pathways To Law and the Social Mobility Foundation because they are the first generation in their families aiming to enter higher education, or are from less privileged backgrounds, which entitles them to free lunch meals at school. Each of the students is predicted to achieve at least grades ABB at A-Level and are on track to attend university.
During the week, the students were given a hands-on introduction to how a corporate law firm operates on a day-to-day basis. The students were also given the opportunity to visit the Trading Floor at Barclays, Canary Wharf.
(Press Release by Linklaters)
