Commercial law firms have failed to be won over by Government proposals to hike university tuition fees, amid fears that mounting student debt will damage diversity efforts. Friederike Heine reports

Fewer than one in four partners are in favour of Government proposals to allow universities to charge students up to £9,000 in fees, with the clear majority of senior lawyers believing it will damage efforts to improve social diversity in commercial law.

Legal Week's latest Big Question survey has found that 61% of partners believe plans to allow universities to increase fees to almost three times the current annual level will damage diversity, with a further 25% thinking it may have a minor impact.