Bates Wells has joined a core founding cohort of law firms to launch the Social Mobility and Real Talent Commitment (SMART Commitment) delivered by Aspiring Solicitors. The SMART Legal Commitment aims to help vacation scheme students and future trainees who face financial challenges in advancing their legal careers.

As part of the commitment, Bates Wells will provide financial support to eligible vacation scheme students and future trainees from lower socio-economic backgrounds, providing funding to cover the cost of accommodation, professional clothing and technology equipment ahead of joining the firm.

Candidates can apply for financial support directly through Aspiring Solicitors, a leading, trusted diversity platform, with no identifying information shared with Bates Wells, therefore helping to break down the barriers associated with requesting financial assistance from employers.

Scott Sullivan, our HR Director, said: “Joining the SMART Commitment is a significant step for Bates Wells in our ongoing efforts to promote social mobility within the legal profession. We believe that talent should be the only criterion for success, and by offering this support, we hope to create a more level playing field for all aspiring solicitors.”

Hannah Lyons, Training Principal, added: “We are proud to be part of the SMART Commitment, which aligns perfectly with our values of inclusivity and support for diverse talent. By providing financial assistance we aim to remove barriers to entry to the profession and ensure that all our future trainees have the resources they need to succeed from day one.”

Chris White, Founder and Managing Director of Aspiring Solicitors, commented: The addition of Bates Wells to the SMART Commitment as a Founder is fantastic news. At Aspiring Solicitors, we feel strongly about solutions to ED&I issues in the legal profession and the SMART Commitment is the latest in a series of services we are providing to our partner organisations. Our aspiration is for many more law firms to partner with us on this initiative. To date, the SMART Commitment has received over 70 applications in six months, and we expect this figure to increase where more firms and candidates are aware of the offering.”

You can find out more about Aspiring Solicitors and the programme here. If you have any questions about our social diversity initiatives, please get in touch with our Emerging Talent Manager Elouise Essex.