Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has increased its Legal Practice Course maintenance grant from £7,000 to £10,000 with immediate effect.

The firm stated that decision to increase the grant was driven by a recognition of rising living costs in London.

However, it is also following the lead of the magic circle firms. Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer all upped the size of their grants from £7,000 to £10,000 in January, followed by Slaughter and May and Allen & Overy in February.

HSF graduate recruitment partner Mark Bardell said: “Herbert Smith Freehills is deeply committed to providing exceptional training and support for our future trainees, including ensuring they have the necessary financial means to achieve every success in their studies.”

The last major round of maintenance grant boosts came in 2013, when Linklaters led the way in increasing them from £5,000 to £7,000.