Last week’s report on the professions by Alan Milburn, which criticised the legal profession for failing to deliver on social mobility, has generated plenty of debate. But when it comes down to it, the main barrier preventing candidates from poorer backgrounds from getting into a career in law is firms’ requirement that recruits obtain a minimum A-level score (usually 320 UCAS points, or ABB).
The correlation between A-level grades and the standard of school you went to is beyond doubt. If you go to a decent school – whether it’s private or a high-performing state school in a desirable catchment area – nine times out of 10 you get better A-levels. Those from low-performing schools in deprived areas are at an undeniable disadvantage.
