Addleshaw Goddard (AG) has launched a year-long programme to help young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds gain insights into careers in law and equip them for future success.

The Legal Explorer Programme will give 20 UK students aged 16-17 the opportunity to learn about the legal profession, build key skills and gain experience within a specific practice area of law.  Participants need to be either sitting A-Levels or Scottish Highers and meet the PRIME qualifying criteria.

From October 2023, each participant will be assigned a mentor and will attend monthly skill-building workshops, including hosts from AG as well as third-party organisations such as Causeway Education, a charity which helps young people facing barriers to higher education, apprenticeships and early careers.

The Legal Explorer Programme will culminate in a week-long work experience opportunity where participants will work with colleagues and Partners from across the firm to give them hands-on experience and develop their legal skills.

The Legal Explorer Programme will culminate in a week-long work experience opportunity where participants will work with colleagues and Partners from across the firm to give them hands-on experience and develop their legal skills.

The Legal Explorer Programme will take place across AG's London, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh offices, each taking five participants. To improve digital inclusion, each participant will be provided with their own laptop and data-only sim (both of which they will be able to keep following completion of the programme). Participants will also receive a bursary to help with their learning costs and have all reasonable travel expenses paid throughout the duration of the programme.

Applications for the programme are now open and will close on 25 September.

David Berry, Inclusion Partner for Social Mobility at Addleshaw Goddard, said:

"Our Legal Explorer Programme will give young people from less-privileged backgrounds the opportunity to build the skills they need to really stand out in the legal market. 

"We will be giving the participants advice on all of the different routes into law, the various careers available to them and what the work of a legal professional looks like on a day-to-day basis.

"Programmes like this are crucial to show young people that a career in law is achievable, regardless of their background or circumstances."