A City fund to train the next generation of social welfare lawyers has received a significant cash injection from the Law Society.

The City of London Law Society (CLLS) said it was grateful to receive £20,000 from Chancery Lane for its Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund, set up last year in partnership with training provider BARBRI, Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Legal Aid Practitioners Group and Law Centres Network.

The Law Society’s donation, one of the biggest received, takes the fund close to £600,000 - enough to qualify at least 60 new social welfare solicitors.

A Law Society spokesperson said: ‘SWSQF provides financial assistance to aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities. The fund helps pay for Solicitors Qualifying Exam preparation courses and assessments, as well as providing greater access to justice and widening access to the legal profession.

‘No matter what background they come from, aspiring solicitors should be able to pursue the career they desire. We are pleased to be able to support a fund which helps bring more talented individuals into our profession.’

CLLS chair Edward Sparrow said: ‘The CLLS is very grateful to have received a significant donation for our SWSQF initiative from The Law Society. They join the City of London Solicitors’ Company Charitable Fund and 24 City law firms in supporting this vital effort to provide funding for dozens of committed front-line social welfare workers across England and Wales to qualify to practice as lawyers working in social welfare law.

‘They will provide a welcome reinforcement to those working across the social welfare legal sector including in the fields of criminal defence, debt, family, housing, human rights, immigration, and welfare. With more supporters coming on board all the time, we welcome the expanding awareness of SWSQF and invite interested law firms and others to get in touch.’

Young Legal Aid Lawyers welcomed the Law Society’s support. ‘We’re really pleased that the importance of social welfare lawyers having the opportunity to qualify as solicitors is being prioritised by the rest of the profession and we hope that SWSQF will go some way to addressing this need, and improving social mobility and diversity in the profession,’ it said.

The next application cycle for aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law to receive financial assistance with SQE prep and assessment from spring 2023 will open shortly. The first round of funding helped 21 people.