Linklaters named as a leading employer for social mobility in the UK
Linklaters has been recognised as a top 20 employer for advancing social mobility in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2020. This is the fourth year in a row in which the firm has been named in the rankings, placing 11th in the 2020 Index.
Developed by the Social Mobility Foundation, the Index highlights the top 75 UK employers who are taking most action to accelerate social mobility in the workplace, recruiting and advancing talent from all socio-economic backgrounds. Now in its fourth year, the Index is considered a leading authority on employer best practice and, this year, acknowledges continuous commitment to social mobility in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over 100 employers spanning 17 sectors, collectively employing almost one million people in the UK, entered the Index. Employers were assessed across seven key areas, including their work with young people and how they attract, retain and progress talent from less advantaged backgrounds.
Linklaters is committed to ensuring that personal background, social identity and socio-economic circumstances are not barriers to success, with social mobility one of the global priorities within the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy. Some notable programmes and initiatives the firm has implemented to actively advance social mobility include:
- Making Links Scholars programme: Introducing a Scholars Programme supporting talented University students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and providing the stepping-stones to help them succeed in their early careers. The programme runs alongside the firm’s Making Links Schools Challenge.
- Virtual internship: Launching a first of its kind free virtual internship, providing candidates from all backgrounds with the opportunity to access the legal profession so as to build awareness of what the firm does and enable candidates to develop skills for use in future applications. Following the success of the scheme, which saw enrolment increase to 18,000 during the Covid-19 pandemic, Linklaters has established a second programme which targets 16-18 year olds.
- Amos Bursary: Supporting The Amos Bursary for over 10 years – a small charity focusing on ensuring talented men of African and Caribbean descent from less advantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to excel in education and beyond.
- Contextual Recruitment: Committing to using a sophisticated Contextual Recruitment System to ensure it considers applicants from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds – the first Magic Circle firm to do so.
- Aspiring Professionals Young Women’s Series: Partnering with the Social Mobility Foundation to create the Young Women’s Series, a programme designed to build the confidence and raise the aspirations of academically able young women from less advantaged backgrounds.
- Reverse Mentoring Scheme: Introducing a successful reverse mentoring scheme in which the firm’s partners and senior members of business teams are mentored by Linklaters employees from under-represented groups to raise awareness and understanding of different individual’s perspectives and experiences.
- The Power of Stories: Continuously sharing stories of individuals from diverse backgrounds to educate, raise awareness and foster understanding.
“We are extremely proud of the progress we have made thus far to promote social mobility across our global offices. To have been named as a leading employer for advancing social mobility for the fourth year in a row is a welcome reflection of the hard work and dedication of so many of our people.
However, it is important to recognise that there is still much more work to be done. We remain resolute in our commitment to increasing the social diversity of our firm and ensuring that a career in law is open to all, regardless of an individual’s background.”
