For years, aspiring solicitors from disadvantaged backgrounds have spoken of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as less a measure of talent and more an obstacle course defined by cost.
The fees alone have derailed countless ambitions, shutting out those without financial privilege or family connections in the profession.
That is why the Law Society’s announcement of new support for disadvantaged SQE candidates has been greeted with cautious optimism. It offers some hope. Yet critics stress the fundamental barrier remains: exam fees that run to nearly £2,000 for SQE1 and almost £3,000 for SQE2.
Disquiet among trainees is growing. Petitions demanding reform, citing the exam’s difficulty and toll on wellbeing, have gathered hundreds of signatures. Even public figures have weighed in – some dismissively branding complainants “snowflakes”.
Against this backdrop, Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE of SKB Law says:“The Law Society’s funding announcement is an important step towards levelling the playing field.”
But even good news has caveats. The money comes not from new investment but from penalties levied on Kaplan for mishandling the SQE, hardly a vote of confidence in the system itself.
“£360,000 may sound like a lot,” she notes, “but in practice it will cover only around 190 candidates, and only for one exam each, not both or for any resits.”
Meanwhile, the deeper problems remain: punishing costs, a contested format, and persistent attainment gaps for Black and Asian candidates. Schemes like this can provide lifelines, but they are not the cure.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson has argued the funding will promote social mobility and widen diversity across the profession. The Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) already offers financial aid, mentorship, and work experience. This new stream of money will extend that work.
Yet as Sarah reminds us: “Supporting disadvantaged candidates isn’t ‘snowflakery’, it’s common sense.
“But if we want a profession that truly reflects and serves society, then fairness requires more than patches around the edges: it means tackling the root causes that keep talent out.”
