Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has marked the start of its inaugural Social Mobility Week in the UK today with the announcement of a new social mobility focused recruitment target for the UK, as part of the firm’s wider commitments to inclusion and equality.

Across the 2024 – 2026 recruitment cycles, the firm will aim to recruit at least 20% of trainees from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This target seeks to increase the social diversity of the current trainee population positioning the firm among the first few to publish specific target and the first to commit to 20% of the trainee population. 

Freshfields will continue to prioritise related initiatives driving change within the firm and across the legal sector. Highlights include:

• Partnering with Rare Recruitment, Aspiring Solicitors, PRIME and the 93% Club to support high-potential candidates and to improve access to the legal profession.
• Delivering award-winning social mobility programmes including our Aspiring Professionals Programme and Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme (the latter now in its 12th year).

London Managing Partner Mark Sansom commented: “I am proud of our commitment to continually advance our social mobility priorities, ensuring that everyone at the firm now or in the future has access to the opportunities and support necessary to excel. Setting a social mobility-focused recruitment target is an essential step in expanding access to the legal profession and strengthens the sense of belonging among our future trainees and current employees."