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Social mobility is a significant concern for numerous industries, including the law. In our sector, for example, there is a noticeable gap between lawyers and the general population with regards to schooling, with 7% of the latter attending a fee-paying school, compared with almost a quarter of lawyers, according to conducted by the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority)

But this need not stand in the way of gaining entry to the legal profession. Enter:  (SMBP), an enterprise dedicated to supporting secondary state school students from low income backgrounds pursue careers in law and finance.

Providing skills training, work insights, and workshops targeted at developing employability, from communication to networking, as well as work experience, the SMBP provides its students with a support on a broad scale. In fact, SMBP alumni benefit from mentoring well past the week of work experience they participate in, which immerses them in a new business every day to gain hands-on training.

our Head of In-house, Sophie Gould’s bite-sized 90 second video on the charity. As an SMBP volunteer, she offers valuable insights behind the scenes.

Making a tangible difference, today

The results the SMBP have delivered so far are extraordinary. In 2018 alone, the SMBP helped 500 students from across the country, with plans to expand further into England and Scotland next year, as well as launching the initiative in Ireland.

At the heart of the SMBP mission is collaboration. Companies, including ITV, American Express, BT, Amazon, Aviva, Barclays, and Provident Financial, and professional sports teams, like Harlequins and Leeds Rhinos, have already partnered to help SMBP students. And that’s not all – legal professionals (both SRA and CILEx qualified), accountants, and business professionals all volunteer their time to advise and mentor as well.

Get involved and help boost diversity and social mobility

Keen to get involved? Take a look at the to find out more about how the charity operates and how you or your business can get involved.

Just as SMBP helps support aspiring students gain access to careers in finance and the law, so SMBP also provides an easy step-on point for businesses looking to help them do just that.