It is essential that the issue of elitism is tackled head on, but there is no simple solution (‘Top firms told to stop cherry-picking from Oxbridge’).

The National Admissions Test for Law was established eight years ago to ‘level the educational playing field’ and tests a student’s natural, raw ability when applying to study law at university.

It provides invaluable information to universities seeking to find talented students from less-privileged backgrounds and is now seen as an essential admissions tool at eight of the UK’s leading universities.

This has enabled universities to take great steps forward in widening participation and provides law firms with the opportunity to recruit from this wider pool.

However, as recent research has identified, fewer than half of state school teachers encourage Oxbridge applications, so universities can only choose from the applications they receive, which at present are overwhelmingly from students from more affluent backgrounds.

The issue must be addressed at all levels, giving young people from all backgrounds the encouragement to aim high. Further down the line, law firms must be more proactive and make a commitment to increasing diversity within their own firm.

Dr Dennis Baker Chair , National Admissions Test for Law