The Diversity Access Scheme and SQE funding

If you're self-funding the SQE and money is the main thing standing in your way, the Law Society's Diversity Access Scheme is worth knowing about before you rule out qualifying as a solicitor on cost grounds alone.

The Diversity Access Scheme, usually shortened to DAS, is a bursary run by the Law Society for aspiring solicitors who face financial hardship or other significant barriers to entering the profession. It's not a loan and it isn't tied to already having a training contract lined up, which makes it one of the few funding routes open to people at the self-funding stage. This post covers what it actually pays for, who tends to qualify, and how the application works.

What the Diversity Access Scheme covers

DAS is aimed at the real cost of getting through the SQE, not just a token contribution toward it. For successful applicants, the scheme is designed to fund SQE-related costs, including the SRA assessment fees for SQE1 and SQE2 and the costs of preparing for them, such as a prep course.

That combination matters. The SRA fee only buys you the exam itself; it doesn't include any teaching, materials or question practice. A funding route that covers assessment costs but not prep still leaves a self-funder with a large bill, often larger than the assessment fee itself. DAS is built to address both sides of that gap, which is closer to the full cost of getting to the exam room prepared.

A DAS award typically also includes a professional mentor and a work experience placement alongside the funding, not just the fees themselves. Exact scope, the number of places awarded, and the details of that wider support can vary from year to year, so always check the Law Society's current DAS page for what's on offer in the round you're applying to, rather than assuming last year's terms still apply.

Who the scheme is aimed at

DAS exists because the traditional routes into the solicitor profession have historically favoured people who could afford several years of unpaid or low-paid study, or who had family networks already in the legal sector. The scheme specifically targets candidates who face financial or other significant barriers to qualifying, and who are underrepresented in the profession as a result.

In practice, that tends to include people who meet some combination of the following:

• Financial hardship that would otherwise make self-funding the SQE unrealistic
• Being the first in their family to attend university, or having no family background in law
• Having grown up in local authority care, or facing other significant personal or social barriers
• Being from a background underrepresented in the solicitor profession more broadly

None of these is a rigid checkbox test on its own. The scheme looks at the overall picture of your circumstances rather than a single qualifying criterion, so read the current eligibility guidance carefully and don't assume you're excluded just because you don't tick every box on a list like this one.

How competitive is it

DAS is selective. It receives considerably more applications each year than it can fund, and the panel is looking for candidates who can both demonstrate genuine need and show a credible, realistic plan for qualifying as a solicitor.

That's not a reason to avoid applying if you think you might qualify, but it is a reason to treat DAS as one part of a wider funding plan rather than something to bank your entire route on. If you're weighing up when to sit SQE1, it's worth building a backup plan (savings, a commercial loan, or a phased self-funded approach) in parallel with a DAS application, so a competitive outcome doesn't derail your timeline entirely.

How to apply

Applications are made directly through the Law Society, usually opening for a defined window each year rather than being open year-round. Because dates and the exact process can shift between cycles, check the Law Society's DAS page for the current year's opening dates, required documents and deadline before you start.

While the specifics vary by year, a strong DAS application generally needs you to be able to show:

1. A clear account of your financial circumstances and the barriers you've faced
2. Evidence of your commitment to a legal career, whether through work experience, volunteering, or academic achievement
3. A realistic plan for how you intend to complete the SQE and qualify, including a sense of timing and your chosen route

Start gathering the evidence for these well before the application window opens. References, personal statements and supporting documents all take longer to pull together than people expect, and a rushed application under deadline pressure is rarely your strongest one.

What DAS doesn't replace

It's worth being clear-eyed about what a DAS award does and doesn't solve. It can remove or substantially reduce the cost barrier to sitting the SQE, but it doesn't guarantee a training contract, a qualifying job, or ongoing income while you study. Many DAS recipients still need to work part-time or manage living costs separately from their SQE funding.

It's also not the only needs-based route. Some universities and prep providers run their own bursary or scholarship schemes alongside DAS, often aimed at similar groups but with different criteria and smaller, less formal application processes. If DAS doesn't fit your circumstances, or you want to apply for more than one source of support, it's worth asking providers directly what else exists rather than assuming DAS is the only option.

Building a realistic funding and study plan either way

Whether or not a DAS application is successful, the practical side of preparing for the SQE doesn't change: you still need to know your fees, your dates, and how many hours you realistically have to study. Getting a clear picture of what the SQE costs in full, assessment fees plus prep, before you apply for funding helps you ask for (and plan around) the right amount.

It's also worth having your target sitting mapped out early. Checking the SQE dates for 2026 and 2027 against DAS application windows means you're not scrambling to book a sitting once a funding decision comes through, and a free SQE study planner can help you turn a target date into a week-by-week study schedule once your funding situation is settled.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Diversity Access Scheme actually pay for? It's designed to fund SQE-related costs for successful applicants, including the SRA assessment fees for SQE1 and SQE2 and the cost of preparing for them, such as a prep course. Exact scope can vary by year, so check the current Law Society guidance for full details.

Who is eligible for the Diversity Access Scheme? The scheme targets candidates facing financial hardship or other significant barriers to qualifying as a solicitor, including people underrepresented in the profession. There's no single rigid test; applications are assessed on the overall picture of your circumstances, so read the current eligibility criteria on the Law Society's site rather than relying on a checklist.

Is the Diversity Access Scheme a loan I have to pay back? No. It's a bursary, not a loan, for candidates who are awarded a place on the scheme.

How competitive is the Diversity Access Scheme? It's selective, with more applications each year than places available. That makes it sensible to treat DAS as part of a wider funding plan rather than your only option, and to have a backup plan for covering SQE costs if your application isn't successful.

Are there other SQE bursaries besides the Diversity Access Scheme? Yes. Some universities and prep providers run their own bursary or scholarship schemes with different eligibility criteria, often alongside DAS. It's worth asking providers directly, especially if your circumstances don't fit DAS closely.

When should I apply for the Diversity Access Scheme relative to booking my SQE sitting? Apply as early as the window allows, since DAS has a defined application period each year rather than rolling admissions. Compare the current SQE booking deadlines against the DAS timeline so a funding decision doesn't leave you scrambling to book a sitting date.