International law firm Osborne Clarke has welcomed teenage school and college students to its Bristol office as part of a work and skills programme aimed at improving social mobility.
The Legal Social Mobility Partnership (LSMP) is a collaboration between law firms and their clients, as well as commercial organisations and professional sports clubs, that allows youngsters from diverse, non-traditional backgrounds to gain an understanding of the legal profession.
The group of 17-year-olds spent a week at Osborne Clarke’s Temple Quay office gaining an insight into a legal career, involving intensive skills training and business games.
Also involved in the project are EE, ITV, organic yogurt producer Yeo Valley, Nationwide Building Society and Bristol Sport, which owns Bristol City FC and Bristol Rugby.
Osborne Clarke diversity and wellbeing manager Su Akgun said: “LSMP is a great programme for Osborne Clarke and the wider legal sector. It helps to improve diversity by breaking down socio-economic barriers and opening up employment opportunities in law firms for a broad range of young people.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the students. It’s been a great opportunity for them to gain solid experience and get a better understanding of what it’s like to work in a law firm. Throughout the week we helped the students gain skills they can use in life and to start their careers.”
The LSMP has rapidly grown year-on-year. Following the success of the inaugural programme in 2014, it was extended first to Greater Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham in 2016 and now includes Bristol, as well as Brighton and Reading.
Other Bristol law firms taking place in the LSMP include Burges Salmon and TLT. It is also supported by Charles Russell Speechlys’ Cheltenham office.
The LSMP objectives are:
- Breaking down both social and psychological barriers to entering the legal profession and tackle the problem of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds counting themselves out of a career in law before even trying;
- Developing presenting, interviewing, influencing, resilience and negotiation skills;
- Arming students with an experience they can use for their CVs, LinkedIn profiles and personal statements and as a talking point for university and job interviews.
