This subject of diversity crops up frequently in relation to the legal profession and things have improved greatly over the years. Close tabs are kept on this important equality issue but now there is a now a new kid on the block. We covered the rise of the ’social mobility in the professions issue’ into the political consciousness in January when Ed Balls, the Education Secretary stated, “No child should be held back by their background, so we will now do more to break the link between disadvantage and achievement.”

Subsequent to the political grandstanding the government has carried out research into the subject, the results of which were published this week (Phase 1 report of the Cabinet Office’s Fair Access Panel. Phase 2 of the report will be published next month). They show perhaps unsurprisingly, that solicitors and barristers were far more likely than the general population to have been to private school. Interestingly, the report also noted that Law firms required internees and work-experience students to be based in London in far more cases than other professions – this factor is considered a barrier to many applicants from less well-off backgrounds.

So armed with these findings, what next? The cause is no doubt well intended but the action plan for this new "crusade" is yet to be revealed. We wait with baited breath. In the meantime MC and other City firms might want to start looking for offices in far flung corners of the British Isles.