King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has become the latest international firm to introduce Rare's contextual recruitment tool in Australia.

The firm's move comes after Linklaters' Australian ally Allens adopted the social mobility-boosting recruitment tool two months ago.

Fellow Australian firm Henry Davis York is also now using Rare's contextual recruitment scheme (CRS), which was introduced in the UK last year where it has now been adopted by 35 firms, including the entire magic circle.

The tool allows  graduate recruiters to look at the performance of potential recruits in the context of their background by, for example, comparing a candidate's exam results with those of the rest of their school. This is intended to make it easier to identify talented students from less privileged backgrounds.

KWM's executive director of people and development in Australia, Lind Johnston, said: "The CRS makes sense for King & Wood Mallesons, as it highlights outstanding graduates who may not have been identified using traditional screening methods, but who nonetheless have a lot to offer an employer. "

Allens adopted the tool in June this year. Miriam Stiel, the partner responsible for graduate recruitment at Allens in Sydney, said it would help the firm "see candidates on a level playing field" and recruit the "most promising" law graduates.

Both firms are introducing the scheme in Australia to recruit for their next summer clerkship intake.

Managing director of Rare, Raphael Mokades, said: "Early data shows that the tool is working successfully [in the UK], showing that disadvantaged students are 50% more likely to get hired as a result of firms using the CRS."