The Access to Justice Foundation is hoping to boost the pipeline of social welfare lawyers by teaming up with City and legal aid lawyers to fund qualifying work experience for 20 trainees.

The foundation has announced it is working with the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF) - an initiative from the City of London Law Society, training provider BARBRI and Young Legal Aid Lawyers – to deliver a 'Supporting Social Justice Solicitors Programme'.

The programme will fund the salaries of SWSQF recipients during their two-year qualifying work experience, enabling trainees to work on the frontline of free legal advice services.

Clare Carter, the foundation's chief executive, said: ‘The impact of the cost-of-living crisis continues to be felt at the frontline of legal services, with advice agencies overwhelmed by demand and facing their own issues around increasing costs in a shrinking funding climate. We’re excited to be working with SWSQF on this important initiative to raise funds to support more junior lawyers at the start of their careers. They will help so many people preserve their homes, employment and basic income.’

Each trainee will carry out an estimated 1,500 hours of social welfare legal work annually.

Patrick McCann, co-founder of the fund, said: 'If we are to provide access to justice to the most vulnerable members of society in England and Wales, we must retain legal representatives. We are delighted to support the Access to Justice Foundation with their [programme]. This impactful programme will help retain our talented SWSQF cohort members within the social welfare sector by raising funds to supplement the low salaries our members typically receive. We hope in time to be able to provide some financial assistance to appropriate SWSQF cohort members and look forward to continuing to work on this initiative.'

The Access to Justice Foundation said it relies on the legal community to fund the SSJS programme ‘and, as always, takes a flexible approach to fundraising’.