This is one of my most important posts of the year:
🚨 The fourth round of applications for the Social Welfare Solicitors’ Qualification Fund (SWSQF) is now open! SWSQF pays for the course and aaawssmenr fees necessary for social welfare workers to pass the SQE and thereby solicitor-qualify. 🚨
Victoria Fearne and I co-founded this initiative four or so years ago and since than SWSQF has committed to funding over 80 legal aid lawyers, with 13 now qualified (🥳):
we aim to fund about 30 in this new round.
SWSQF is run and/or supported by City of London Law Society (CLLS), BARBRI SQE Prep, Young Legal Aid Lawyers YLAL, CLLS Training Committee, Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG), Law Centres Network.
(Shout out to Colin Passmore, Christina Digings, Sarah de Gay, Carra Holt, Sarah Clover, Diana Melo, Liz Thomas, Kirsty Wilkins, Matthew Skelding, Marguerite Mason for their collaboration.)
Apply if:
👩🏼🎓you are an aspiring solicitor working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities *and*
👨🏿🎓the clear majority of your work is within social welfare law *and*
👩🏾⚖️ you intend to stay within the field for at least two years after qualification *and*
👨🏽⚖️ you have the full support of your current employer
…you can apply for the fund on the CLLS website – link below.
Applicants have until 14 November 2024 to submit their applications.
Read more about SWSQF on the website. We have provided lots of helpful materials.
SWSQF would also not be possible without the generosity of our funders - thank you to all the organisations and individuals who have contributed to this fund. Your support is helping to deliver more front-line social welfare solicitors providing greater access to justice for those in need.
We are always looking for more funding – if you’re interested in hearing more about how you might help, please contact Victoria Fearne.
📣 Please do comment for reach, repost and/or share this with your contacts, whether they are potential applicants or social welfare law organisations. I am keen that *all* potential candidates hear about SWSQF.
Link to website here: https://lnkd.in/eGjRaZ8v
#accesstojustice #socialwelfaresolicitors #FreeSQE #wideningaccess