Linklaters launches 2021 Making Links Schools Challenge
Linklaters has launched its 2021 Making Links Schools Challenge designed to give Year 12 students (or equivalent) at non-selective UK state schools the opportunity to develop the skills needed to become the commercial lawyers of the future, and win prizes of up to £2,000 for their schools and themselves.
The Making Links Schools Challenge aims to help young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop their commercial awareness and presentation skills, opening up the possibilities of a career in law to those who previously thought it might have been beyond their reach. Participants are asked to submit a presentation based on the greatest challenges and opportunities for business in the post-Covid-19 landscape.
Up to 20 finalists will be selected and invited to the virtual grand final taking place on Wednesday, 7 April and Friday, 9 April 2021. Further details on how to apply can be found here. The deadline for the submissions is 11.59pm on Friday, 12 March 2021.
David Martin, Global Diversity & Inclusion Partner at Linklaters, comments:
“In this challenging Covid-19 environment there is a very real danger that existing inequalities will become entrenched, with the younger generation, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, likely to be disproportionately impacted in the long-term.
This year more than ever, it’s so important that we ensure that those who would normally miss out on opportunities have access. Early opportunities are vital and can play a key part in attracting diverse talent into the legal sector.”
Linklaters is committed to ensuring that personal background, social identity and socio-economic circumstances are not barriers to success, with social mobility one of the global priorities within the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy. This year, the firm is specifically targeting social mobility ‘cold spots’ – where young individuals can find themselves locked into disadvantage.
Linklaters has been recognised as a top 20 employer for advancing social mobility in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2020 – the fourth year in a row in which the firm has been named in the rankings.
