Dentons has committed to a minimum three-year sponsorship to help fund the legal charity’s mission to support aspiring Scottish lawyers from less-advantaged backgrounds. The firm will also provide non-monetary assistance including mentoring and career development opportunities.

The new sponsorship has been confirmed as the Lawscot Foundation considers scholarship applications for young people who are due to commence studying a Scots law LLB later this year. Applications are open until 5pm on 21 June.

Lawscot Foundation spokesperson Milly Berndes-Cade said: “We’re pleased and grateful to have Dentons sign up as a Lawscot Foundation sponsor, both for providing vital financial backing and for showing such enthusiasm to directly help engaging with and supporting our students.

“Dentons has shown its commitment via this sponsorship to social mobility in the Scottish legal sector. Our students and the entire legal sector benefits when talented and diligent young people are able to pursue their career ambitions, regardless of their financial or personal circumstances.

“Many Lawscot Foundation students have never met a lawyer before beginning their studies, so being able to offer them access to the expertise and resources of a large and successful firm such as Dentons alongside other opportunities makes the world of difference to their progress and motivation.”

Claire Armstrong, Dentons’ managing partner in Scotland, said: “We are proud to launch a new partnership with the Lawscot Foundation aimed at nurturing the aspirations of law students from less-advantaged backgrounds. Our profession thrives on diversity of thought and experience, and it is imperative that this diversity is drawn from across society.

“This initiative is a professional commitment to social mobility, to make way for the next wave of legal expertise and personally, a barrier I am proud to help dismantle. Together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive future in the legal sector.”

This year for the first time the Lawscot Foundation is offering two scholarship categories. In addition to the long-standing scholarship including an annual bursary currently set at £2,750, a second-tier of support is available providing non-monetary benefits such as mentoring.