To qualify for financial support from The Aspiring Solicitors Foundation, you must:

• Be resident in the United Kingdom, planning a career as a solicitor in the United Kingdom
• Be 18 years + on the day of your application
• Be currently on, or have a place confirmed at, a part time or full time undergraduate or postgraduate course
• Be able to demonstrate a firm commitment to pursuing a career as a solicitor

The following criteria will also be considered:

• Educational background and attainment 
• Family educational and economic background 
• Previous receipt of scholarship or bursary due tobecause of your family income or social mobility status
• Eligibility for free school meals 
• Time spent in local authority care (current or past)
• Is or hasBeing/previously been a refugee or asylum seeker
• Previous paid employment whilst studying/evidence of financial efforts to support study

Additional information:

• If you are currently a student, we expect you to use/provide your University/College email address
• If you are currently a student, we expect your named reference to be contactable via a University/College email address
• If you are planning to become a student, we may request evidence that you have been offered a place on a course
• If your application relates to a law firm event or work experience and they are not reimbursing your expenses, we will request evidence of this. The evidence of this must be an email or letter from the law firm and/or an organisation acting for the law firm.

Sometimes we will request additional information from you in order to process your application. If we request this, the sooner you get back to us, the sooner we’ll be able to let you know whether your application is successful or not.

We are proud to offer SQE support at the following institutions:

BPP University, University of Law, BARBRI, and The College of Legal Practice

• We do not provide financial support for undergraduate tuition fees
• If you are applying for financial support towards an SQE1 or SQE2 course, you are required to have already obtained a minimum 2.1 degree
• We do not provide financials support to pay for SQE exams fees
• The maximum amount available is £5,000 and this amount granted to applicants is at the Trustee’s discretion.
• During application stage, you must state to which university/course provider you are applying, and provide any additional information such as course start date, current enrolment status etc. Unfortunately we are unable to provide support for SQE courses at institutions that are not listed above. 

You are required to provide one academic or professional reference. Academic references are preferred.

Academic references should be from a tutor or member of staff who is involved in pastoral care. This could be a paid or voluntary position. They cannot be a family member or friend.  A reference will only be accepted from their academic institution email.

A professional reference should be from a Manager or Supervisor from a paid or voluntary position. They cannot be a family member or friend. Where possible a reference should be provided from their professional email. Where this is not possible an explanation should be given. 

Full contact details of referees must be provided, including a contact telephone number as we may contact them to clarify details.

Your referee will need to respond to our requests including stating how long they have known you for and confirm that the circumstances on which you are applying are correct.

Your application will not be progressed until we are satisfied with your reference. However, you may receive notification that your application has been unsuccessful prior to use receiving your reference if you do not satisfy other eligibility criteria.

If we do not receive your reference within a reasonable period of time, you will be notified that your application has been withdrawn.

IMPORTANT

You must provide your referees with the information you plan to put into your application.  These details will include evidencing your commitment to a career in law and why you believe you deserve a grant. 

It is your responsibility to ensure your referee send us the required information. We do not chase references on behalf of applicants.