Lewis Silkin shakes up recruitment to boost diversity

Lewis Silkin is shaking up its recruitment strategy in a bid to broaden the diversity of its trainees.

The London firm will be introducing a £5,000 grant for those completing the GDL and has also raised salaries for trainees and newly qualified lawyers (NQs).

First-year trainees will now earn £32,000, up from £31,000; second-years will get £34,000, up from £33,000; and NQs will receive £50,000, up from £48,000.

Graduate recruitment manager Andrea Williams said the firm had introduced the new measures to better reflect its annual intake.

“There’s greater competition out there,” she said. “We looked back and saw that 80 per cent of our trainee intake have completed the GDL and could benefit from a grant.”

The firm believes that, as many people studying the GDL have already had another career, encouraging them to join the firm will foster greater diversity. As well as raising salaries, it is also sending partners to meet with graduates and revamping its recruitment brochure.