Diversity Access Scheme

Eligible courses

The DAS is open to candidates who wish to undertake: 

• the Legal Practice Course (LPC)
• the LPC combined with a master’s in law (LLM)
• the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) SQE1 and SQE2 assessment/s and SQE preparation course/s
• SQE assessment/s and SQE preparation course/s combined with LLM
• SQE assessments and a combined SQE1 preparation course with law foundations course/conversion course and a SQE2 preparation course

The DAS does not provide funding for the following courses:

• a law degree (LLB)
• a combined law degree – for example law and politics
• a standalone law conversion (PGDL)
• a standalone law foundations course
• a standalone master’s in law (LLM)
• a legal doctorate (PhD)

We understand that most, if not all, of our awardees will need to work alongside study.

You can apply if you wish to study part-time (online or in-person). We encourage you to check that your SQE1 preparation course leads to the July 2027 SQE1 sitting, as per the eligibility criteria.

SQE preparation course providers

We don’t have preferred providers.

If you are selected for an award, where reasonable, we may require you to take a specific SQE course at one of our sponsor institutions:

• the University of Law
• BPP University
• Barbri
• the College of Legal Practice
• QLTS School
• Nottingham Trent University
• the University of Westminster

Assessment timeframes

You do not need to have a confirmed SQE preparation course or LPC place at the time of applying.

If you secure a DAS award, you must be ready to start your SQE preparation course or LPC between September 2026 and February 2027, and sit your SQE assessments within the timings set out in the guidance.

You cannot apply to the DAS and defer your SQE preparation course or LPC start date.

See the application guidance for a full breakdown of all assessment timeframes.

Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) assessments

We expect awardees to complete both SQE assessments by January 2030. Funding will not be extended beyond this date.

If you haven’t started your SQE1 preparation or assessments yet, you are expected to take the SQE1 assessments in July 2027.

If you are taking a combined SQE1 preparation/law foundations course, a January 2028 SQE1 assessment will be considered.

The 2026 DAS awards are not suitable for those who wish to take the SQE1 in July 2026 as the award will not be confirmed until July.

If you have already passed SQE1 and are looking to prepare for and sit SQE2, the earliest SQE2 sitting available under the scheme is January 2027.

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

The LPC will still run in 2026/27, but you must make sure you are eligible to qualify through this route.

If you apply to study the LPC, we will ask you for evidence that you are eligible.

If you began a qualifying law degree in September 2022 or later, you can only qualify as a solicitor through the SQE.

Financial eligibility

To make sure the DAS reaches those who need it most, we include annual household income-based eligibility criteria:

• you live outside London and your household income does not exceed £25,000, or
• you live in London and your household income that does not exceed £28,000

You must also not have access to available savings, monetary gifts or loans to fund your studies. If shortlisted, we will ask you for evidence of this.

We accept applications from candidates receiving universal credit and other benefits.

Residence

You must:

• live in and have the right to work and study in England or Wales, and
• intend to continue living in England or Wales throughout your SQE/LPC studies

Academic criteria

You must either:

• hold a minimum 2:2 degree (or equivalent if you secured your degree outside the UK), or
• be on course to graduate with a minimum 2:2 degree by August 2026

If you are shortlisted, we will ask for evidence of this before interview. You will need to supply either a degree certificate or official university transcripts if you have not yet graduated.

If you do not provide this documentation, you will be withdrawn from the process.

English or Welsh language requirements

You must either:

• have English or Welsh as your first language, or
• be proficient in spoken and written English and have achieved at least level IELTS 7.5 (or equivalent score from an alternative SELT provider), which is the SRA’s required standard

If you are shortlisted, we will ask you for evidence of this before interview.

Candidates with a criminal record

Candidates with a criminal record may apply.

You must apply to the SRA for an early character and suitability assessment by 1 March 2026 and before submitting your DAS application.

If you are invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence showing your SRA-approved assessment.

If you apply without an early character and suitability assessment, you are ineligible and will be withdrawn from the process.

Candidates whose assessments have been refused by the SRA are not eligible for the DAS.

Unlock – support for people with criminal records

Other eligibility criteria

You must meet a minimum of the two following criteria:

• you attended a non-fee-paying school in the UK (or a non-selective public school overseas)
• you were part of the first generation of your family to attend university
• you were eligible for free school meals due to low household income growing up
• your parents or carers were not in professional occupations, and you don’t have access to professional legal networks through family and friends

For information on what ‘professional occupations’ covers, see the application guidance.

Who cannot apply

We do not accept applications from qualified legal practitioners in any jurisdiction, including the following examples:

• solicitor
• barrister
• legal counsel
• attorney
• lawyer
• advocate

This list is not exhaustive.

We accept applications from candidates who are paralegals or completing qualifying work experience (QWE), if they meet the eligibility criteria.

We do not accept new applications from candidates who have already received a DAS award or SQE/LPC funding from the Law Society.