Diversity Access Scheme

Guide
28 Feb 2024
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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.

In 2024, we will be celebrating 20 years of DAS and we'd love to hear from alumni.

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

On this page:

Go to our frequently asked questions.

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 2023 DAS round of awards (PDF)

Our sponsors

The 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 the following organisations for their donations towards to the Diversity Access Scheme 2024 awards:

  • Ogier
  • Page Group
  • Rabobank
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
  • The National Trust
  • UBS
  • University of the Arts, London
  • Wedlake Bell
  • Withers
  • Zaiwalla & Co