The City of London Law Society – “Commercial Law for Social Welfare”
About the Fund
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The SWSQF is an initiative by the City of London Law Society, BARBRI and Young Legal Aid Lawyers (‘YLAL’) to provide financial assistance to aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities. The SWSQF funds the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation courses and assessments. The fund works alongside other initiatives to provide greater access to justice and widen access to the legal profession.
The City of London Law Society, BARBRI and YLAL are working with the following 30 law firms and the City of London Solicitors’ Company Charitable Fund and benefits from their generous financial support of this initiative:
Addleshaw Goddard, Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Blake Morgan, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation, Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co, Covington & Burling, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields, Latham & Watkins, The Law Society, Linklaters, Macfarlanes, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose Fulbright, Osborne Clarke, Ropes & Gray, The Shakespeare Martineau Foundation, Shoosmiths, Simmons & Simmons, Stephenson Harwood, The Stewarts Foundation, Travers Smith, Towers & Hamlin, Watson Farley & Williams, Weil Gotshal & Manges, White & Case.
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Endorsed by the Law society
I. Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, welcomes the news that the SWSQF fund has surpassed £500,000.
Are you thinking of funding SWSQF?
Meet the first SWSQF cohort – who are we funding
Please meet the first cohort to see what good your donation can do.
Read all about our cohort members – we’re delighted to share this information sheet on who SWSQF is funding – they’re an impressive cohort!
The SWSQF core project team outline the fund’s initiative in this short video.
SWSQF attracts national press interest
The December edition of the City Solicitor Magazine provides more information on the background to the scheme.
SWSQF has also featured in The Times, The Law Society Gazette, Legal Features, FE News and Legal Cheek, please click on the below to read the articles in full.
Are you thinking of applying to SWSQF 2023?
Guidance on Applying for the Fund from YLAL and the 2022 Cohort
Please meet the first cohort to see who has been successful in applying to SWSQF.
YLAL have recorded this short FAQ video for applicants.
Our first cohort offer their experiences and guidance for the application process.
How is SWSQF funding and the SQE course working for members in our first cohort?
In this short video, YLAL answer everything employers might want to know about the SWSQF – who the Fund is for, how it will work, and how employers can use it to support their paralegals, caseworkers and more to qualify as solicitors in their organisation.
For further guidance please visit the YLAL – Solicitors qualifying exam hub, an extensive website created by young lawyers offering information on SQE. This page also contains a link to the dedicated SWSQF page, which provides information on the fund and guidance for the application process.
Criteria application guidance
Please read each of the three documents below before completing the online Application Form
Eligibility Criteria – To be eligible for the SWSQF, applicants will need to be able to confirm (and, where stated, provide evidence) that they meet all the Eligibility Criteria.
Guidance for Applicants – Contains information on the criteria, process and timetable and provides guidance on completing the online Application Form.
Employer Support Letter – Your employer (or your prospective employer, if contracted to work in the future) must confirm all the matters outlined in section 6 of the Eligibility Criteria 2023. This document sets out the matters requiring your employer’s confirmation and support and provides guidance to your employer on what we are asking of them. A solicitor or COLP in your organisation should complete the letter, sign and print it on letterhead paper. The letter must be uploaded with your online Application Form.
The CLLS reserves the right in its absolute discretion to make appropriate enhancements and amendments to the SWSQF in line with its experience of operating the SWSQF and in line with sponsor financial commitments.
Any queries not dealt with in these documents may be emailed to SWSQF@citysolicitors.org.uk.
How to Apply and Application Timetable
To apply for the SWSQF, please complete this online Application form.
The full timetable for the application process can be found below.
| 19 October 2023 at midday | Applications open. The Application Form, Guidance to Applicants and SWSQF Eligibility Criteria documents will be available from the CLLS website. |
| 23 November 2023 | Applications close at 10 pm |
| w/c 15 January 2024 | All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted for an interview |
| w/c 5 and 12 February 2024 | Interviews with shortlisted applicants |
| w/c 4 March 2024 | All shortlisted applicants advised whether they have been successful |
About the SQE
Our SQE Partners
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The CLLS is working with BARBRI, Young Legal Aid Lawyers, the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and the Law Centres Network to deliver this programme, including promoting the programme and deciding eligibility of applicants. BARBRI will also provide the SQE preparation courses.
BARBRI are experts in supporting those studying for professional exams alongside full-time employment and, in support of this initiative, are offering discounted programmes.
About BARBRI’s SQE Preparation Programmes
BARBRI’s flexible SQE preparation programmes are designed to support you on your qualification journey, whilst studying around your employment commitments. Their innovative courses are built on decades of experience in exam testing (US Bar, QLTS and SQE) and learning innovation. Unique learning technology provides a structured and supportive environment that gives transparent learner progress and instantaneous feedback.
BARBRI’s Personal Study Plan (PSP) is powered by ISAAC, the Intuitive Study Assistant and Coach, which combines AI with real-world exam intelligence to produce SQE preparation programmes that are uniquely tailored to you as an individual. Throughout the programmes, ISAAC monitors which topics you are mastering, and which topics you are less familiar with. It then adjusts your learning path to shore-up strengths and remediate weaknesses.
The substantive learning for the course (on-demand lectures, bespoke SQE study guides, multiple choice question sets and practice assessments) is delivered flexibly on the PSP. For SQE1, this learning is supported by regular guidance from your dedicated 1:1 learning coach, tutor ‘office hours’ drop-in sessions and live online ‘Prep for Success’ workshops covering e.g. systematic problem solving, exam guidance, wellbeing and mindfulness.. For SQE2, weekly assignments (skills tuition and practice exercises) are delivered via the PSP with 1:1 tutor support and practice with feedback sessions.
Further information about BARBRI’s SQE programme is here: https://barbri-prep.com/sqe/
Your Commitment
SQE1: 40-week part-time (10 hours per week study) or 20-week full-time (20 hours per week study), plus time preparing for the assessment.
SQE2: 12 weeks part-time (15 hours per week study), plus time preparing for the assessment.