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News

Russell Group graduates could make up over 80% of trainee solicitors, reveals survey

updated on 02 March 2016

Graduates of Russell Group universities and Oxbridge are overwhelmingly favoured by law firm recruiters, research by Chambers Student has indicated.

Chambers’ survey of some 2,300 trainee solicitors between 2013 and 2015 revealed that some 81% of respondents had studied at a Russell Group university for their undergraduate degree. Oxbridge graduates made up a fifth of all trainees surveyed and a quarter of those working in London, while Manchester University was the most popular alma mater among trainees at national firms, where the number of Oxbridge graduates also fell sharply.

Some 46 universities were mentioned by trainees at magic circle and other big City firms, while trainees at medium-sized firms came from 58 universities. Trainees at national and large regional firms came from the biggest spread of universities, with 68 institutions mentioned. The survey counted respondents from 83 universities in all.