It is a well-publicised fact that the legal profession lacks diversity. Access to the legal profession unfortunately continues to hinder those from low socio-economic backgrounds and the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have only exacerbated this further.

Recent statistics published by the SRA highlight that 12 per cent of lawyers in England are Asian, 3 per cent are from mixed/multiple ethnic groups, 2 per cent are black and 1 per cent are from other ethnic groups. This represents a total of 17 per cent of qualified lawyers. The statistics also highlight that 58 per cent of lawyers in England come from a professional (or higher) socio-economic background.

While these figures are improving there is still more work to do. The question then arises as to how we combat this to ensure that the legal profession accurately reflects our society as a whole.

One obstruction for those from less advantaged backgrounds is having the finances available to pursue their legal education via the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Solicitors Qualification Exam (SQE).

My personal experience as someone who has come from a single parent household and part of the first generation of her family to attend higher education, included obtaining a student loan to study the LPC combined with the LLM on a part time basis. Although, this loan only made up two thirds of the total price of the course. Fortunately, I was in a full-time job, so I was able to pay the remaining third directly to my course provider, but this may not be a possibility for other students. However, that is now an additional loan on top of three years’ worth of student loans at undergraduate level, which will inevitably have to be paid back over a significant period of time number.

Initiatives such as the Diversity Access Scheme by the Law Society provides financial assistance to students seeking to study the LPC, LPC with LLM, SQE assessments and preparation courses or SQE preparation courses with LLM.

As part of the Scheme, students also have the opportunity to be matched with a mentor, obtain work experience and take part in sessions on commercial awareness, interview technique and support with training contract applications.

The great impact of this Scheme on increasing access and diversity in the profession can be seen in a recent review of the Scheme as 86 per cent of awardees grew up in low-income households, 44 per cent of awardees are from Black or other minority ethnic backgrounds and 86 per cent were part of the first generation in their family to go to higher education. The Scheme has been in place since 2005 and over 250 individuals have been supported. Over the last five years 65 per cent of awardees have either secured training contracts or qualified as lawyers.

Without schemes like this in place a number of talented individuals are hindered from advancing their career in law and may seek out alternative professions due to the ongoing issue of accessibility. Continuing to increase access to the profession is now more important than ever to ensure that the lawyers who represent us are reflective of the society that we inhabit.

Priscilla Adu is a student representative of the Junior Lawyers Division and a trainee solicitor at IBB Law.