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updated on 05 March 2012
The legal sector's drive to improve social mobility across its professions stepped up a gear on 2 March 2012, with the launch of the social mobility toolkit. Developed by the Bar Council and the City of London Law Society, the scheme is part of the wider Professions for Good campaign, which exists to promote and improve social mobility across all employment sectors.
As reported in The Times, the toolkit consists of a list of questions which law firms and chambers are encouraged to ask themselves in relation to their recruitment policies and the demographics of the applicants. The guidelines encourage recruiters to ascertain the socioeconomic backgrounds of candidates, such as whether they are the first generation of their family to go into higher education, as part of the assessment process.
Although critics may be concerned about how such sensitive information will be used, citing among other things its potential effect on meritocratic employment policies, employers will legitimately point out that they cannot improve the social demographics of their workforces without relevant information. Those interested in the profession will watch the scheme's progress with interest.