The entire Magic Circle are among 17 law firms to sign up to a new pledge to combat the career obstacles faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers.

The Race Fairness Commitment (RFC), launched by U.K. graduate recruitment company Rare, has been signed by Slaughter and May, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy, Linklaters and Clifford Chance, along with 12 other firms including Herbert Smith Freehills, Macfarlanes, Norton Rose Fulbright, Pinsent Masons, White & Case and Travers Smith.

According to a statement released by Rare on Monday, the new pledge commits the law firms' London offices to several steps designed to improve the career opportunities for ethnic minority lawyers and prevent them from being blocked or dissuaded from senior roles.