Posted by Schools and law firms are being urged to join a scheme to help underprivileged children take on a career in law.
The Pathways to Law project, created by the College of Law in conjunction with the Sutton Trust, aims to encourage teenagers who may not have considered law as a work option for them.
A partnership with Bristol University was announced last week when the College celebrated its new centre in Bristol – due to open near Temple Meads in September 2010.
The £1.5million Pathways to Law scheme was established in September 2007 and in the first two years nearly 500 students have been accepted onto the scheme, which runs through A-level years.
The students attend lectures, seminars and advice and guidance sessions held by the five partner universities, Leeds, LSE, Manchester, Southampton and Warwick, as well as at regional centres of The College of Law.
Now College bosses are looking to extend the plan into the South West. “The College is an educational charity and through the Pathways to Law scheme, we will be working with Bristol University to provide opportunities for young people to work in the legal sector,” said Nigel Savage, Chief Executive of The College of Law.
“We are now calling on schools and law firms from the region to work with us on the scheme.”
The popularity of law as a university course has increased recently, with more than 18,000 students starting a law course at university or college in September this year – up 1.2% on 2008.
With the legal profession seen as a ’safe’ career option during the recession, firms are raising their efforts to attract talent from all backgrounds.
“We are delighted to be working with the College of Law to support the Sutton Trust scheme,” said Professor David Clarke, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol. “It is important that more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are given the chance to enter the legal profession.
“The University’s Law School is one of the most successful in the UK with an international reputation for teaching and research. We hope that by sharing these resources the students will reap the benefits of the scheme.”
David Sedgwick, Chief Executive at law firm Clarke Willmott, added his voice to support the plan. “I am passionate about providing opportunities for young people from all walks of life to enter the profession and am therefore very keen to work alongside the College on the Pathways to Law scheme, and I hope that many other firms in the region will follow suit.”
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