Magic circle firm Linklaters has set a new magic circle benchmark for Legal Practice Course (LPC) grants for future trainees, hiking them by at least 40%. The move has triggered a raft of City firms to follow suit, with Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May all matching the rise.

From September 2006, the top five UK firm will unify its rates so that all LPC students receive an annual maintenance grant of £7,000.