Plea for more cash aid for poor students to study law

Published on 22/09/2012 20:40

MORE government support should be available to help students from poorer backgrounds to study for a profession in the law, according to the Scottish
Labour Party.

It now costs an estimated £13,000 to study for the postgraduate diploma in professional legal practice.

However, the postgraduate tuition fees loan has been capped at £3,400 – meaning students from poorer families may not be able to afford to undertake the necessary training.

Sarah Boyack MSP is urging the Scottish Government to hold a summit to include politicians, academics and legal professionals to discuss the issue of increasing the amount of assistance available. She said: “I call on the Scottish Government to take the lead and to meet with representatives from across the legal profession, academics and students to discuss concerns and find a constructive way forward.”

A Scottish Government spok-es­man said: “Nobody has done as much as this government to widen access to university. The level of fees charged for postgraduate courses are set by individual institutions.

“This year we have ensured that all Scottish students taking the diploma in legal practice can apply for tuition fee loans of up £3,400 and we strongly support university efforts, such as the Reach programme, to encourage entry into the professions for those disadvantaged backgrounds.”