Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund returns for second year in a row

Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund returns for second year in a row

Reading time: one minute

Law firms have raised more than £600,000 to support 65 hopeful social welfare lawyers through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

The Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF) is aimed at individuals who are already working in social welfare law but aren’t yet qualified.

Nearly 30 law firms and legal organisations have invested in the fund, including Ashurst LLP, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, Mayer Brown International LLP, Ropes & Gray International LLP, Shoosmiths,  Trowers & Hamlins LLP and The Law Society.

In April last year, the first cohort of 22 social welfare legal workers began training with SQE preparation course provider BARBRI. They were selected from a competitive pool of applicants and their full study will be covered by the fund.

Since the first cohort started, the SWSQF has secured funding for more than 65 social welfare legal workers, some of whom have already started their SQE preparation with BARBRI. After qualifying, each lawyer will deliver more than 1,200 social welfare law hours each year.

The other law firms offering financial support to the initiative include:

• Addleshaw Goddard;
• Allen & Overy LLP;
• Clifford Chance;
• Clyde & Co LLP;
• Covington & Burling LLP
• Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP;
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP;
• Latham & Watkins;
• Linklaters LLP;
• Macfarlanes LLP;
• Norton Rose Fulbright;
• Simmons & Simmons LLP;
• Stephenson Harwood LLP;
• Travers Smith LLP;
• Weil Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP; and
• White & Case LLP.