By TP Kennedy, Director of Education

A Commitment to Access and Inclusion

We have just welcomed 477 new trainees to the solicitors profession on the full time Professional Practice Course. The campus at Blackhall Place comes alive with the energy, hopes and enthusiasm of the next generation of aspiring solicitors.

Some of the new trainees are participating on our Access Scholarship Programme, which provides financial and practical supports to assist people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a career as a solicitor.

The Access Scholarship Programme is just one of the Law Society’s initiatives that aim to widen access to legal education. For almost 25 years, we have been working to widen participation in the legal profession, through scholarships, regional access, and wellbeing supports.

The reason we have invested so heavily in these initiatives is because we want to ensure that the legal profession is diverse. 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. This breadth of perspective strengthens decision-making, deepens empathy for clients, and ensures the legal system is fairer, more accessible, and more trusted by all.

At the heart of our strategy - to ensure the path to qualifying as a solicitor is more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of aspiring lawyers from all backgrounds – are three programmes.

These 3 programmes change how solicitors are trained, mentored, and supported.

They are:

• the Access Scholarship Programme
• the Small Practice Traineeship Grant
• and the Professional Practice Course (PPC) Hybrid.

As a new teaching term begins, I thought it was an opportune time to shine a light on these programmes.

Access Scholarship Programme

The Access Scholarship Programme is an expression of a belief in a fair and open legal profession. It offers substantial financial support to students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying for the Final Examination – 1st Part and progressing through the Professional Practice Course.

More than just a scholarship, this programme includes mentorship and career support, ensuring recipients are not only admitted to the profession—but thrive within it.

The Access Programme is not designed to ‘look good’- it is designed to do good, by breaking down barriers and ensuring fairness in access to the profession.

Since its inception, 428 participants have benefitted from the Access Scholarship Programme. Of that 428, 253 have qualified as solicitors while another 175 are on route to qualification and at different stages of this journey.

Small Practice Traineeship Grant

The legal sector in Ireland is built on a foundation of diverse practice types, including hundreds of small and rural firms that provide essential services to communities.

However, many of these smaller practices face real challenges in offering traineeships - challenges that can limit access to legal training for would-be solicitors outside major urban centres.

To address this, the Law Society introduced the Small Practice Traineeship Grant. This initiative provides direct financial support to eligible small and sole practitioner firms to help cover the cost of employing a trainee.

It’s a powerful win-win: trainees gain valuable experience in dynamic, generalist environments, and smaller firms are empowered to nurture the next generation of legal professionals.

The Law Society grant 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. 31 grants have been awarded since 2020.

PPC Hybrid: A Flexible Path to Qualification

The PPC Hybrid programme was introduced six years ago. It 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. It reflects the Law Society’s commitment to equity in education.

In the six years since its introduction, the number of PPC Hybrid trainees has steadily grown. Part-time trainees account for almost one in five (18%) of the total solicitor trainee intake.

We can see its contribution to increased diversity, with a higher proportion of trainees located outside of Dublin and a larger percentage of those aged 30 or older.

There has been huge interest and demand for this PPC course, with 490 enrolling to date – and another 100 or so expected to join us in December.

Building a More Inclusive and Supportive Legal Community

As the legal profession evolves, we have a number of programmes that are helping to ensure that the next generation of solicitors is more diverse, more representative, and more equipped to serve society with integrity and compassion.

Legal education should empower all who have the ambition, skill, and passion to serve justice – and more people than ever before are getting that chance.

I warmly welcome to all those joining us in Blackhall Place this week. We are here to support you and enable you to thrive!