Applications for the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme are now open until 9am on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
About the Diversity Access Scheme
The Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) is an annual scholarship/bursary designed to support aspiring solicitors from lower socio-economic backgrounds who face financial and other significant challenges in pursuing their legal education and careers. Established in 2004, the scheme has supported more than 300 individuals to complete their legal education, many of whom now work across the profession – including in the judiciary, legal aid centres, in-house teams, the City, charities, and academia.
The DAS makes around 15 awards annually and provides tangible support where their awardees need it the most:
• Finance: through the provision of LPC or SQE preparation course and assessment fees
• Networks: through being matched with a professional mentor
• Work experience: through high quality, paid placements brokered by the Law Society
Further details, including eligibility and how to apply, can be found on The Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme webpage.
Get Involved – volunteer for the shortlisting process
The Law Society is looking for volunteers to support the DAS 2026 shortlisting process. Your role will help ensure the process remains transparent, independent, fair and credible. Shortlisting volunteers will review and score four application questions that are set as part of the DAS application form to assess a candidate on their:
• Resilience
• Motivation
• Understanding and awareness of the legal profession, and;
• Their need for the award.
Volunteers won’t be required to make eligibility decisions or wider contextual decisions about applications – those parts of the application are not scored and are kept separately to the set application questions. Each application will be scored by two shortlisting volunteers, who will be paired as part of the review process.
If you think you could be part of the DAS shortlisting process, please register your interest through The Law Society’s Get Involved platform
Time commitment
• Applications will be sent to volunteers for shortlisting the week commencing 20 April
• Completed scoring and documentation must be returned by 20 May
• Each volunteer will review around 25 applications
o Estimated time commitment:
– Up to 4 hours to review and score applications
– Up to 1 hour to meet with your paired shortlisting partner
– Time spent scoring can be completed flexibly over the four-week period
Mentoring opportunities
The Law Society is also looking for three mentors for their 2025 awardees, specifically individuals with experience in:
– Commercial and/or corporate work
– Commercial, IP, entertainment or employment law
– Residential property, immigration or human rights law
The time commitment for mentoring is around 1 hour every 4–6 weeks. If you have any questions about mentoring, the shortlisting process or the DAS more broadly, please reach out to Leila Lesan at diversityaccessscheme@lawsociety.org.uk