Diversity Access Scheme

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The Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) is a unique scholarship programme, designed to address key barriers to the solicitors’ profession faced by those from less advantaged backgrounds.
Group of diverse young professionals sat around table talking and smiling

In 2024 we will be celebrating 20 years of the Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) and we'd love to hear from alumni.

If you are a past recipient of the DAS, please do get in touch on diversityaccessscheme@lawsociety.org.uk.

Applications for the Diversity Access Scheme 2024 will open on Wednesday 28 February.

On this page:

Through the DAS, we're able to support talented, aspiring solicitors to pursue their legal education and careers through:

  • Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) scholarships
  • mentoring
  • work experience

As part of the scheme, we offer you the chance to be matched with a professional mentor and to get work experience during your studies.

We’ll help find a placement in a practice area that interests you. 

We'll also build formal soft skill support sessions into the DAS next year. 

Find out how the Diversity Access Scheme has helped others

Read our report on applications for the 2022 round of Diversity Access Scheme awards.

Who can apply

Read the full eligibility criteria for 2023 (PDF 111 KB)

If you have any questions, check the FAQs below or email diversityaccessscheme@lawsociety.org.uk

How to apply

Applications to the Diversity Access Scheme 2023 are now closed.

Read our

For any queries, email diversityaccessscheme@lawsociety.org.uk.

Key dates 

The 2023 report on applications will be published this Autumn.

The next round of applications will open in early 2024.

Hear from previous awardees

Our sponsors

The Diversity Access Scheme benefits from the generous support of the A W Blackwell Bequest and the support of Kingsley Napley in offering the Brandusa Tataru-Marinescu Award for Diversity and Inclusion

With thanks to Zarine Kharas for her donation to the Diversity Access Scheme 2023 awards. 

To see the infographic about this topic, please refer to the live page.

We are also supported by the following firms and in-house legal teams who generously offer work experience placements and internships for our Diversity Access Scheme awardees:

  • Arm
  • Bindmans
  • Browne Jacobson
  • Endava
  • Cerberus Capital Management
  • General Medical Council
  • Gowling WLG
  • Hickman and Rose
  • Justice
  • Kingsley Napley
  • Leeds City Council
  • Link City
  • Sackers
  • Santander
  • Squire Patton Boggs
  • UBS
  • University of the Arts, London
  • Wedlake Bell
  • Withers
  • Zaiwalla & Co
Frequently asked questions
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No. The DAS provides funding for either the LPC, LPC combined with LLM or SQE assessments/preparation courses only.

We do not provide funding for any other courses.

Yes. We accept applicants who wish to study on either a full-time or part-time basis.

We understand that many of our awardees will need to work alongside study and that doing the LPC on a part-time basis can achieve the best balance.

Yes. We do not discriminate and welcome applications from aspiring solicitors of all ages who are talented, tenacious and committed to joining the profession.

No, you do not have to have a confirmed place when you apply.

However, if you're successful in your application, your award is conditional upon gaining a place on the LPC or SQE preparation course/assessments for the current academic year (2021/2022).

For the LPC, we specify either a September or January start.

No. We do not accept deferrals.

If you apply to the DAS, you must be ready to start your LPC or SQE preparation course/assessments in the current academic year.

No. The DAS award is purely for LPC or SQE fees which are paid directly to your LPC or SQE provider.

The DAS does not provide any living costs and therefore you must be certain you are able to support yourself during study.

We do not ask for your GCSE or A-level grades.

Many firms and in-house legal teams ask for an upper second class or first class degree, and so we do ask that if you went to university and did not achieve your academic potential that you tell us why.

We understand that some students may have been studying under difficult circumstances that may have had a negative impact on their overall degree result.

Where possible, we ask that you fill in your application using the online form.

If that’s not possible, we ask that you use the PDF form and type in the answers.

In order to be eligible for the DAS, applicants must live in England or Wales and plan on continuing to live in England or Wales for the duration of their studies.

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