Allen & Overy has become the final magic circle firm to increase its Legal Practice Course maintenance grant from £7,000 to £10,000.

Slaughter and May and Linklaters announced they were increasing their grants last week, following in the footsteps of Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Like the other firms, A&O has backdated the award to the January 2018 LPC class.

Graduate recruitment partner Claire Wright said: “We’re increasing our LPC maintenance grant in recognition of the fact that living costs have increased and as part of our overall commitment to social mobility.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure our profession is attractive and accessible to talented people who have the potential to succeed. We don’t want financial considerations to be a barrier to entry.”