Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Start studying now to become a solicitor in England & Wales

Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund

The SWSQF is an initiative by the City of London Law Society, BARBRI and Young Legal Aid Lawyers (‘YLAL’) to provide financial assistance to aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities. The SWSQF funds the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation courses and assessments. The fund works alongside other initiatives to provide greater access to justice and widen access to the legal profession.

For more on the fund and how to apply click here

Breaking Barriers

We are proud to partner with Breaking Barriers, a charity that offers employment support to refugees in London to assist them with integration into the UK. Breaking Barriers support around 7-8,000 refugees annually, many into law firm placements.

In 2021 we teamed up with Linklaters and Breaking Barriers to offer up to five fully funded SQE1 prep courses per year to lawyers with a refugee background living in the UK.

Learn more about what Breaking Barriers do here

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The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS)

In 2021 we announced our collaboration with the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) supporting aspiring lawyers through the qualification journey via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Through this scheme we offer applicants one sponsorship place per year for our SQE1 and SQE2 Prep courses, helping to improve diversity and access to the profession in line with the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) key objective for the SQE.

The DAS supports talented and tenacious aspiring solicitors from less advantaged backgrounds, providing funding, work experience and mentoring.

SQE Humanitarian Scholarship

A career in law is a dream for many. It's also a way for people to make a difference in their community and help others who need it most. We're committed to providing access to legal education to people from all sectors of society. That's why we've created the BARBRI Bridges Humanitarian Scholarship—a grant that helps those seeking refuge outside of their home country and those affected by war to pursue a career in law.

Our new scholarship provides opportunities for SQE students or lawyers qualified in a different jurisdiction the opportunity to study and become qualified solicitors in England & Wales. Our goal is to support our students in pursuing their dreams of becoming a solicitor and our new scholarship supports those around us who might not have had the same opportunities.

Click here for more details

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Not sure of your next step?

If you want to find out how you can support our BARBRI Bridges initiative or you're interested in joining forces as an organisation partner get in touch with us to see how we can work together.

Find out more about partnering with us

What our partners say...

“BARBRI really is being brilliantly visionary, innovative and proactive in creating and delivering opportunities to those seeking to enter the profession, in particular, those where obstacles might appear to be insurmountable. Linklaters is delighted to work with BARBRI and Breaking Barriers in relation to its support of refugee lawyers and anticipates working on other important projects going forward. Watch this space.”

Patrick McCann, Director Learning for Linklaters LLP

“There is no national strategy to support refugees in the UK to take their first steps into work. This leads to unemployment, exclusion. and untapped potential. With support from partners such as BARBRI, we can help people from a refugee background to access the legal profession and acquire the knowledge, confidence, experience and qualifications they need to gain stable, fulfilling employment matching their skills and aspirations.”