Herbert Smith Freehills has increased its Legal Practice Course (LPC) maintenance grants by 43% to £10,000, following the magic circle in the move.

The firm will now hand future trainees £10,000 in living support during their LPC, representing a rise of £3,000.

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 entire magic circle raised its LPC allowance provision earlier this year.

Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer were the first firms to make the move, with Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters subsequently upping their grants.

Linklaters City corporate partner Tracey Lochhead said: "We are committed to providing the best possible support for all our staff at the firm, including our future trainees. In order to do this we continuously review the market and as a result, we have increased the LPC grant to £10,000. This includes our current LPC cohort, who have already been informed of the increase."

A Slaughters press spokesperson added: "Slaughter and May has increased the maintenance grant offered to its future trainees while completing the Legal Practice Course to £10,000 with immediate effect. Those future trainees who started the course on 29 January 2018 will also benefit from the increase."

Before joining a firm for a two-year training contract, future trainees must complete a law degree or a Graduate Diploma in Law followed by the LPC, which lasts seven and a half months.

A&O 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."

A&O backdated the payments to its January 2018 trainee intake.