Professional services firm PwC has become an ‘affiliate firm’ to Aspiring Solicitors – the first venture by the pro bono volunteering unit at PwC’s legal arm. Thirty volunteers from PwC’s legal network will act ‘professional ambassadors’ to Aspiring Solicitors, providing mentoring and support to young people looking to progress.

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PwC said it will co-host events with Aspiring Solicitors in offices across the UK to help young people learn skills to enable them to obtain vacation scheme placements and training contracts at legal institutions. Aspiring Solicitors, which works with more than 26 law firms and legal teams, aims to provide free access, opportunity and assistance to students from under-represented groups and to promote and encourage diversity in the legal profession.

Keily Blair, founder of the pro bono unit and a solicitor and director in PwC’s regulatory and commercial disputes team, said: ‘We are delighted to be teaming up with Aspiring Solicitors to build on the vital work it does in improving social mobility and diversity in the sector.’

Chris White, the founder of Aspiring Solicitors, said: ‘The partnership with PwC is in keeping with Aspiring Solicitors’ desire to step up a gear in terms of our impact and objectives in increasing diversity in the legal profession. The principles and objectives of both organisations are closely aligned and our carefully planned collaboration will benefit a huge number of Aspiring Solicitors members in a variety of ways.’