Pathways to Law

The Pathways to Law programme was set up by the Sutton Trust and The Legal Education Foundation in 2006 to inspire and support academically-able students from non-privileged backgrounds who are interested in a career in Law.

Applications

Applications to Pathways to Law have closed for 2023-24.

View the Pre-Placement Agreement 2023-24 [PDF 178KB].

Programme

• View the Queen Mary University Pathways to Law Easter placements 2024 [PDF 102KB]

Queen Mary University London joined the Pathways to Law programme in 2016 and launched an exciting 2-year programme which now runs every year for a cohort of 45 Year 12 students including events such as:

• Visits to the Royal Courts of Justice and Inner Temple.
• Work experience opportunities at one of many partner organisations. Placements in 2023 included The Law Commission, Santander, Eversheds Sutherland and 39 Essex Chambers.
• An opportunity to attend the four-day Pathways to Law National Conference, hosted at Warwick University.
• Taster Lectures, University experience days and Law master classes.
• Personal Statement, CV writing, interview skills and LNAT workshops.
• Networking, Public speaking in the work place and Mooting workshops.
• Mentoring scheme.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the programme you must meet the following criteria:

• Be in Year 12 at the start of the Programme
• Attend, and have always attended, a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college
• Live within an hour commuting distance of either The London School of Economics and Political Science and/or Queen Mary University of London.

In addition, we are looking for students who:

• Would be the first generation in your family to attend university.
• Have been eligible or be in receipt of Free School Meals during secondary school and/or the 16-19 bursary and/or the Pupil Premium.
• Have attended schools with a lower than average progression to higher education, or a higher than average proportion of students who qualify for Free School Meals
• Live in an area with low progression to university and/or live in an area with high levels of socio-economic deprivation.
• Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who qualify for means-tested benefits
• Have achieved five GCSEs at grades 9-6, including English and Mathematics. A minimum of two of these qualifications should be at grades 9 – 7. This is equivalent to five GCSEs at A* - B in the old system, with two grades at A* - A

In addition, priority will be given to students who are (or have been) looked after or accommodated in care. Priority will also be given to young carers.

Students will be allocated a place at either Queen Mary University of London or LSE. Students will not be able to apply to a particular university, although consideration will be given to any preference expressed in the personal statement.

Pathways to Law Code of Conduct

• Please read the Sutton Trust Code of Conduct [PDF 160KB]

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email pathwaystolaw@qmul.ac.uk

If you are a current student in the School of Law and interested in becoming a Pathways to Law Student Ambassadors, we would love to hear from you. Please email pathwaystolaw@qmul.ac.uk for more information.