Linklaters aids Hackney school kids with reading and maths

inklaters has launched a volunteering partnership with all 76 schools in Hackney through the borough's education authority.

The scheme, which was launched last Tuesday (13 November) to coincide with National Pro Bono Week, will initially see 600 volunteers from the magic circle firm offering help to 25 Hackney schools. This will then be rolled out across the whole education authority.

The initiative will see Linklaters' staff reading with children in primary schools and offering mentoring to secondary school pupils on a regular basis. There will also be one-off events, such as schoolchildren going into Linklaters to learn maths while 'working' at the firm. Lynn Dalton, a member of Linklaters' community investment team, said the majority of volunteers will be lawyers.

"The one-off events will mainly see volunteers coming from the practice areas," said Dalton. "The more regular schemes, such as reading and mentoring, will see the majority of the volunteers from other staff at Linklaters due to the time commitment."

Linklaters managing partner elect Simon Davies said he will personally lead the initiative within the firm.

"It really is a fresh approach to how business and education can work together," said Davies. "Over the past five years there's been a steady improvement in educational standards in Hackney and we have the capacity to support that further."