The subject of access to a legal career had many hot and bothered last year when minister Alan Milburn declared that the profession was too socially exclusive in a government report. Brow-beating firms to throw their recruitment net even wider just as swathes of young lawyers had been, or were being ditched, was not a masterclass in timing. But then an election is just around the corner, so it probably couldn’t wait.

That aside, getting the profession to open up to a more diverse section of society can be no bad thing. And leading the charge is Lovells with its new diversity drive Ladder to Law.

Lovells has teamed up with not-for-profit organisation The Brokerage CityLink and is working with four London schools in Forest Hill, Rotherhithe, Paddington and Islington offering open days, work experience and mentoring. The programme will focus on students in years 10, 11 and 12 of secondary school to enlighten them about the legal profession.

We expect to see lots of similar initiatives springing up as time goes on and, whilst the underlying priciple is sound, the bloodletting of the last two years should not be forgotten too soon. There’s not enough room for everyone on the legal train, the cold hard figures show that an awful lot of hopefuls fail to leave the station. And many fall off on the jouney.

Which leaves the question, whose interest is it in to put that warning on the ticket? The Government? Firms?? Law Schools??? Universities???

The future debt-laden student?