Blake Morgan supports City of London Law Society to create opportunities for social welfare lawyers

Leading law firm Blake Morgan has pledged support for the City of London Law Society’s Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF) which sets out to broaden opportunities to enter the legal profession.

The SWSQF is a joint initiative from the City of London Law Society, BARBRI, Young Legal Aid Lawyers and the Law Centres Network, and provides financial support to enable people working in social welfare for organisations that serve disadvantaged communities to achieve a legal qualification.

Through the programme, which is about to enter its second year, aspiring solicitors can access funding to take the preparation courses and assessments for the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Beneficiaries from the initiative to date have included those working in social welfare for Ealing Law Centre, Merseyside Law Centre, the Centre for Women’s Justice and Lawstop.

Blake Morgan joins 21 law firms currently supporting the SWSQF by contributing to the annual fund. Over £500,000 has been raised to date by the programme in funding from participating law firms, which will support at least 55 new social welfare solicitors.

Liz Bryne, HR and Development Director at Blake Morgan, said:

She added: “Social welfare law in particular is underfunded, and there is a need for more lawyers to enter the profession. Providing financial assistance to would-be lawyers is an important first step in improving this.

“As a firm committed to making a positive impact to the communities in which we live and work, Blake Morgan is proud to be supporting the work of the City of London Law Society’s SWSQF initiative, and we look forward to seeing the good work of beneficiaries in the years to come.”