Linklaters and 22 other law firms have today demonstrated their long-term commitment to improving access to the legal profession by launching PRIME, a UK profession-wide undertaking to give fair access to quality work experience for young people from less privileged backgrounds.
Supported by the Law Societies of England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, and The Sutton Trust, PRIME commits member firms to provide work experience which gives an insight into the range of careers available in the legal profession and the potential routes into those careers.
Member firms will provide an agreed number of work experience places that meet a series of minimum standards:
Firms must provide a number of places that is not less than 50% of the number of training contracts offered each year. The target for the profession is to provide 2,500 places by 2015, although firms who have already signed up must achieve their own individual target by July 2013.
Minimum standards include at least 30-35 hours of work experience per place and a commitment to developing key business and personal skills in areas such as oral and written presentation, networking and negotiation. Firms must offer a way to maintain contact after work experience has ended as well as provide financial assistance during the programme.
For details visit www.primecommitment.org.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Rupert Winlaw on +44 20 7456 3219 or Katie Taylor on +44 20 7456 2287.
Notes to editors:
The founding members of PRIME are: Addleshaw Goddard, Allen & Overy, Arthur Cox, Ashurst, Blake Lapthorn, Brodies, Clifford Chance, CMS Cameron McKenna, Dickinson Dees, DLA Piper, Dundas & Wilson, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Maclay, Murray & Spens, McGrigors, Norton Rose, Pinsent Masons, Shepherd & Wedderburn, Slaughter and May and Trowers & Hamlins.
