A ‘diversity centric’ legal recruitment firm that developed a digital mentoring scheme to boost representation of black people in the law has widened its focus to social mobility, the Gazette has learned.

Fresh from unveiling a tech platform to connect senior decision-makers in law firms and in-house legal teams to qualified Black lawyers, The Stephen James Partnership has built a similar platform to support aspiring lawyers from less advantaged backgrounds.

Chief executive Samuel Clague told the Gazette that around 85% of people being mentored came from lower socio-economic means, which inspired the firm to design a platform based wholly on social mobility.

Samuel Clague

Clague: Platform could be aspiring lawyer's first access to senior legal professional

Those eligible to participate in the 'Best in Class' initiative would include people who were entitled to free school meals. ‘This will probably be the first time they have access to someone quite senior, who can give them insight into the law as a profession,’ Clague said.

Mentors pay a fee, which covers platform access, bespoke data and analytics, and the resources needed to maintain relationships.

According to Solicitors Regulation Authority data, the proportion of lawyers from lower socio-economic backgrounds has fallen from 21% in 2015 to 18% in 2023.