Diversity among solicitors ‘is about justice’
The Law Society’s Director of Education has said that diversity in the legal profession is not just about representation – it is about justice.
“When solicitors come from a wide range of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, the profession better reflects the society it serves,” T P Kennedy stated.
Writing as the Law Society welcomed 477 new trainees to the solicitors’ profession on the full-time Professional Practice Course (PPC), Kennedy explained why the organisation had invested so heavily in three initiatives aimed at widening access to the legal profession.
The three programmes are:
- Access Scholarship Programme,
- Small Practice Traineeship Grant, and
- Professional Practice Course (PPC) Hybrid.
Financial support
The Access Scholarship Programme offers substantial financial support to students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying for the Final Examination – 1st Part (FE-1s) and progressing through the PPC.
The programme also includes mentorship and career support.
The Small Practice Traineeship Grant provides direct financial support to eligible small and sole practitioner firms to help cover the cost of employing a trainee.
The scheme, worth €125,000, has been providing support to five trainees in regional areas each year since 2020 – with an additional place being added for 2026.
Part-time trainees
The PPC Hybrid programme, introduced six years ago, is designed for those who may not be able to relocate to Dublin or study full-time due to work, family, or personal commitments.
“By combining in-person learning with online delivery, the PPC Hybrid programme opens doors for more students across Ireland – and beyond – to pursue a career in law,” says Kennedy.
The number of trainees on the programme has steadily grown, and part-time trainees now account for almost one in five (18%) of the total solicitor trainee intake.
Read the full article by T P Kennedy on the Law Society website.