Law Society helps combat the cost of qualification

This article from the Spring 2006 issue of Directions provides an update on Law Society scholarships and bursaries in England and Wales – for further information see the Qualifications and funding section of the Law Society website.

The Law Society of England and Wales will be looking with interest at the number of people applying to study law degrees this year. Early indications from UCAS, based on the January closing date figures, show a general drop in numbers. With 7.4% fall law was a subject with one of the largest decreases.

Of course, this is the first year that students will face increased tuition fees. Last year the Law Society took part in Sir Alan Langlands’ report on gateways to the professions, looking at the potential impact on entry to the legal profession of the new higher education funding regime.

Part of our evidence was about student debt. In addition to the costs involved in a first degree, would-be solicitors also have to meet the increasing costs of their Legal Practice Course (LPC). For those who have secured a training contract with a firm, there may be help, but others have to raise between £6,000 to £9,500 to pay for their course fees – a very considerable financial commitment.

The Law Society is keen to see that law continues to attract a wide variety of students from different ethnic groups and social backgrounds. More than half of all law graduates go on to qualify as solicitors, so the diversity of this group is important for the future face of the profession. Black and minority ethnic solicitors make up 9% of all solicitors who are now on the Roll, and this percentage has been rising year on year. Law Society figures show that 26% of law students and 19% of trainees are from minority ethnic groups. The growth in the number of women solicitors also continues, and 2005 saw the number of women admitted to the Roll rise to more than 60% for the first time. Nearly 62% of trainees are female.

In order to help students with the ability to make good solicitors but who face disadvantages, the Law Society runs a number of schemes. The Law Society Bursary scheme is open to students who have confirmed places on the Legal Practice Course or the Common Professional Examination course (CPE)/Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and who are suffering financial hardship.

These bursaries are paid for by Law Society trust funds, and last year 13 awards were made. Applications usually open in January and close in April. Students have to complete a form which asks for details of their financial situation, and there is also a written exercise. This year students have been asked to write about identity cards – are they a social necessity or a hindrance to liberty? Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview before the final selection is made.

The Law Society’s Diversity Access scheme aims to help talented, committed people overcome obstacles to becoming a solicitor. The obstacles may be because of a disability or because of social, educational, financial or family circumstances.

This scheme was launched in 2003. Although there have been growing numbers of women and ethnic minority students entering the profession, the Society realised there was work to be done on improving diversity – particularly because of the serious financial commitment. The Trainee Solicitors’ Group estimates that in the near future students will qualify with debts of between £29,000 and £44,000. In a recent study, the group found that 82% of students indicated that they were currently in debt. The majority of those (76%) had accrued more than £5,000 in debt. Almost half of those in debt (45%) owed between £5,001 and £10,000, with a further third of students owing more than £10,000. This represents a significant proportion of likely earnings as a trainee solicitor.

In its first year the Diversity Access scheme helped 14 young people with money towards their LPC or CPE/ GDL. Some had sponsored places provided by BPP, the College of Law and Nottingham Law School. In its second year 12 students were chosen. These included a single parent who received benefits and hence would not be able to take out a student loan, and a young woman from Manchester who had been inspired to take up a law career because of her upbringing in a deprived area where crime was widespread.

The Law Society is also developing a mentoring scheme to help students from non -traditional backgrounds break through to the profession. As the Chief Executive of the Law Society Janet Paraskeva explains:

There are many people with the intelligence and commitment to make good solicitors, but without support they will not be able to realise their ambition. We want to help these exceptional people to break through. The legal profession works best when it reflects the society it serves.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010