An initiative designed to boost social mobility and help talented students become lawyers has appealed for greater financial support to help raise funds to assist candidates in need.

The Law Society's Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which is supported by the Law Society Charity, supports promising entrants to the solicitors' profession who face exceptional social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualification.

The scheme provides financial support to candidates, funding their LPC places, as well as networking and mentoring.

It is supported by BPP Law School; the College of Law; Nottingham Law School; the University of Plymouth Law School; the University of Westminster School of Law and the University of Wolverhampton School of Law.

The DAS, which relies on donations made to the Law Society Charity, has set a target of raising £250,000 this year to fund 30 LPC places and build up a fund to safeguard the future of the scheme, but it says funds have so far been slow to come in.

Last year the scheme enabled 12 students to take the LPC. Since its launch in 2004 it has helped 61 aspiring lawyers on the first stage of their career.

Law Society Charity chairman Nigel Dodds said: ‘Last year a report by the Alan Milburn-led review panel highlighted the lack of social mobility across the professions. The DAS is one of a number of Law Society-led initiatives which can really make a difference and help the legal profession identify the best talent, irrespective of their social background.

‘However, the scheme cannot turn to government grants or some hidden pot of money. It has to rely on support from the profession and other sectors to make a significant difference. Without it we, the profession, are missing out on reaching the most promising lawyers of tomorrow.

'The outlook is clear though – without more support to fund enough places many will miss out on this very real opportunity for a career in law and the profession will not move forward in its commitment to social mobility.’