Rare’s ‘Discuss’ social mobility programme joined by Herbert Smith Freehills and Travers Smith

Herbert Smith Freehills and Travers Smith have joined Discuss, a social mobility programme run by the diversity specialists, Rare Recruitment.

Discuss is a programme designed to identify talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds and help them toward careers in commercial law. Now in its third year, Discuss is open to students studying any degree at any university. Travers Smith and Herbert Smith Freehills are the most recent firms to join the programme, which is also sponsored by other notable firms such as Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and Slaughter and May.

The programme seeks to improve participants’ technical knowledge and commerciality with one-to-one sessions conducted by ex magic circle partner, Melissa Andrewes; and ex DAC Beachcroft partner, Gaynor Clements. There are also group sessions at each of the sponsor firms, attended by partners, recruiters, associates and trainees, which help to prepare candidates for the application process.

Veronica Roberts, graduate recruitment partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, commented: "Being part of the Discuss programme is particularly exciting for us, not just because we have recently signed up for the Rare corporate social responsibility for the coming recruitment season, but also because we are going to be involved in a programme that truly levels the playing field for candidates who may lack access to the information, networks and insights that might have been afforded to others. As such, it allows the truly excellent to shine and show their true potential."

Caroline Edwards, partner at Travers Smith said: "Travers Smith is proud to be part of this remarkable programme. It is a natural extension of the highly productive relationship we have had with Rare for the past seven years. We are looking to recruit candidates who are brilliant, motivated and committed to a career in law. These qualities are not defined by socioeconomic background. We believe that Discuss is the perfect platform for identifying excellent candidates who will thrive at Travers Smith, whatever their circumstances."