The Law Society is looking to the profession to help raise 150,000 to fund scholarships which will help disadvantaged but talented individuals to qualify as solicitors.

The Society's new diversity access scheme, which was launched last week, also aims to encourage firms to provide work placements for undergraduates and mentoring for legal practice course students.

People chosen for scholarships will have to demonstrate that they have the potential to make an exceptional contribution to the solicitors' profession and must face obstacles relating to a disability of some kind, or to social educational, financial or family circumstances.

Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'We believe the solicitors' profession will be greatly enriched if its profile more accurately matches the society it serves.

'The Society recognises that financial obstacles are only part of the problem and we accept that the solicitors' profession can appear extremely intimidating and inaccessible to those from non-professional backgrounds.

'This scheme will encourage and enthuse students and make the law more accessible to many people.'