One Billable Hour campaign launched

It urges law firms and other professionals to donate the value of one billable hour, which can fund up to ten sessions of tuition for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Be the Ladder founder Trevor Sterling said: ‘Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t. A simple hour of your time could change a lifetime.’

Sterling, senior partner at Moore Barlow, explained early pilot programmes with partner schools have shown promising results in terms of pupils’ confidence and academic achievement.

A similar scheme has operated at the Bar since 2015. Seán Jones KC, 11KBW, launched the Billable Hour Campaign to fundraise for Save the Children’s work with refugees.