Fourteen students from disadvantaged backgrounds have been awarded scholarships to fund them through the legal practice course (LPC) or the common professional exam (CPE) under the Law Society's new diversity access scheme.

The students, who have all demonstrated the potential to make an exceptional contribution to the legal profession, will have their course fees paid by the scheme.


Each student has overcome some kind of obstacle to obtain their law degree, whether relating to disability or social, educational or family circumstances.


Law Society: funds scholars
Several of the students had to finance their undergraduate studies by working, while most of them have also been involved in voluntary legal work throughout their degrees, working for magistrates courts, witness services and legal advice centres.


One of the scholars, Kathryn Andrews from Wolverhampton, financed her studies by working as a nursing auxiliary. She was also secretary of her university's law society and a volunteer at Wolverhampton Citizen's Advice Bureau.


Another student, Lisa Nguyen, founded a pro bono centre at her university while studying for her degree, with students providing legal help to members of the public.


Law Society President Edward Nally said: 'All of the recipients have demonstrated talent, desire to be a solicitor and determination to succeed despite the obstacles they face.


'Without these scholarships some of these people could be lost to the legal profession.'