Linklaters has launched a new digital internship, in a move aimed at increasing social mobility within the legal sector.

The programme, run in collaboration with Australia-based online education provider Inside Sherpa, uses a virtual reality platform and allows participants to interact with virtual clients and colleagues in a way that Linklaters says replicates the day-to-day work of the firm.

It is also free for all university students to undertake.

Students will be set a series of tasks and modules modelled on the type of work they would do on a vacation scheme or training contract, such as leaving voicemails for clients. They will also receive video instructions from partners and access to resources to help with the tasks.

The course is entirely self-marked, with model answers provided for each task.

The Magic Circle firm previously launched similar online platforms in Australia and the U.S., but the internship is the first of its kind in the U.K.

Graduate recruitment partner Fionnghuala Griggs said the internship aimed to increase access to the City profession to students from any background or location.

"We know that a simple lack of awareness of what life is like at firms like Linklaters is often one of the biggest barriers preventing otherwise strong candidates from applying to join," she said.

"We hope this new virtual platform will give students a taste of what it's really like to experience the day-to-day work of a City firm and inspire them to find out more."