Law Society urge greater support for Diploma students

Students risk being priced out of the legal profession unless the Government raises the level of support on offer, the incoming president of the Law Society of Scotland has warned
 
Christine McLintock, who takes over as president of the solicitors’ body later this week, claimed that funding remains an obstacle for those seeking to enter the profession.
 
Students studying for their Diploma in Professional Legal Practice – a postgraduate requirement to practice law and become enrolled as a solicitor in Scotland – can access a loan of up to £3,400 to cover roughly half the cost of tuition fees.

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From the next academic year, Diploma students will also be able to apply for a living cost loan up to £4,500. 
 
However, McLintock has declared meeting the costs of the postgraduate requirement is still a challenge for some amid calls for the Scottish Government to go further.
 
“If we’re genuine about allowing people from all backgrounds into the profession, I think it would help if we had full loan funding available on a means-tested basis for those that need it,” she told Holyrood. 
 
“Obviously, in terms of the degree, tuition fees are met. But for the postgraduate requirement, which is a requirement for good reasons, there are no grant awards, but partial loan funding is available. 
 
“It is something that we have been – and I personally have been – speaking to ministers about and trying to get a change on because I think it would make a difference for the small number of people who really struggle financially to get through that leg of the qualification."
 
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said eligible students studying for the Diploma would be able to apply for up to £7,900 of support from the 2015-16 academic year.
 
“The Scottish Government also awards discretionary funds to universities in Scotland,” she added. “These funds can assist eligible students, including those studying for the Diploma, who are experiencing financial difficulty while studying.  
 
“A review of support for taught postgraduate study in Scotland, chaired by Professor Bryan MacGregor of Aberdeen University, will report in summer 2015. The Scottish Government will consider the suggestions for change outlined in that report.”