Clifford Chance (CC) has backed a study proposing a set of new social mobility initiatives for graduate recruitment in the legal industry, including a new university ranking system.

As part of findings sponsored by CC, diversity recruitment company Rare is devising a number of tests and schemes to help City law firms reduce unconscious bias in the graduate hiring process.

In July, Rare will pilot a pre-Legal Practice Course (LPC) training programme, which aims to train and offer work experience to candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds who have not secured training contracts but meet the LPC grade requirements.