A collective of law firms has clubbed together to help get more kids from under-privileged backgrounds into law, under the new "Prime" scheme. Or PRIME as it prefers to be known.
The scheme invovles 23 syndicate firms offering internships to those aged 14-18 on free school meals at state schools (or from a school where a large number of students are on free meals), and whose parents haven't been to university.
PRIME has certain rules to which all member firms must adhere. For starters, it has to be at least 30 hours of proper work experience. So no shoe shining and dry cleaning fetching for these young people. And firms have to offer places to at least half as many people as they offer training contracts per year. And the firms have to pay all expenses out of their own pockets, and keep in touch with the eager-eyed youngsters once they've been ushered out the door. All in all, an ambitious set of rules for a scheme which it is hoped will cater for 2,500 students a year by 2015.
David Morley, A&O's Senior Partner, said "it's 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...we must change that".
You can take a look at the flashy website here, and watch the intro video from Mishal Hussain (private school/ Cambridge). Or, if you're at a firm which wants to sign up to the scheme, get in touch.
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The scheme invovles 23 syndicate firms offering internships to those aged 14-18 on free school meals at state schools (or from a school where a large number of students are on free meals), and whose parents haven't been to university.
PRIME has certain rules to which all member firms must adhere. For starters, it has to be at least 30 hours of proper work experience. So no shoe shining and dry cleaning fetching for these young people. And firms have to offer places to at least half as many people as they offer training contracts per year. And the firms have to pay all expenses out of their own pockets, and keep in touch with the eager-eyed youngsters once they've been ushered out the door. All in all, an ambitious set of rules for a scheme which it is hoped will cater for 2,500 students a year by 2015.
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School children show their excitement at the thought of spending time at a law firm |
David Morley, A&O's Senior Partner, said "it's 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...we must change that".
You can take a look at the flashy website here, and watch the intro video from Mishal Hussain (private school/ Cambridge). Or, if you're at a firm which wants to sign up to the scheme, get in touch.
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