The City Solicitors Educational Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1121091
• Annual Income: £603,416 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £410,369 (2024)
• Founded: 1989, restructured programs from 2015
• Geographic Focus: England, primarily London and South East for City Solicitors Horizons; England-wide for SWSQF
• Application Method: Invitation only / structured program applications (not traditional grants)

Contact Details

Organization: The City of London Solicitors' Company (managing the Trust)

Address: Furniture Makers Hall, 12 Austin Friars, London, EC2N 2HE

General Email: mail@citysolicitors.org.uk

Phone: 020 4553 8675

Website: https://www.citysolicitors.org/charity/city-solicitors-educational-trust

Program-Specific Contacts:

• City Solicitors Horizons: https://www.citysolicitorshorizons.org.uk
• SWSQF: SWSQF@clls.org

Overview

The City Solicitors Educational Trust (CSET) was founded in 1989 by a number of City law firms as a response to reduced public funding for university education. Registered as charity 1121091, the Trust initially focused on supporting the teaching of core subjects to undergraduate law students, providing over £9 million in grants to approximately 70 higher educational establishments across the UK to help fund teaching posts and resources at law faculties offering qualifying law degrees.

The Trust has since evolved its mission to focus on social mobility and access to the legal profession. Since 2015, CSET has operated two flagship initiatives: City Solicitors Horizons, which supports 50 students annually through a three-year programme alongside their undergraduate degrees, and the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF), launched in partnership with the City of London Law Society in 2022, which funds individuals training to work in social welfare law.

The Trust is managed as part of the charitable activities of The City of London Solicitors' Company, a working livery company. In 2024, the Trust received total income of £603,416 (primarily from donations and legacies) and spent £410,369 on charitable activities, with all expenditure directed toward these two core programmes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust does not operate traditional grant-making programs open to general applications. Instead, it runs two structured initiatives:

1. City Solicitors Horizons

• Type: Three-year structured support programme for undergraduate students
• Scale: 50 students selected annually
• Application Method: Annual application process for eligible first-year students
• Eligibility: First-year undergraduates from non-Russell Group universities in London and South East England, from low socioeconomic backgrounds
• Benefits Provided: Classroom and one-to-one training, mentoring from City firm solicitors, work experience placements

2. Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF)

• Type: Full funding for Solicitors Qualifying Exam preparation and assessment
• Scale: 98 candidates can be funded through current £1 million commitment; 65+ funded to date
• Application Method: Annual application cycle (2026 applications open October 2025)
• Eligibility: Individuals working in social welfare law for organizations serving disadvantaged communities
• Coverage: Full cost of BARBRI's SQE preparation course and SQE1 and SQE2 assessments

Priority Areas

Social Mobility in Legal Profession: The Trust's primary focus is improving access to the legal profession for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, specifically:

• Students from state-funded schools who are first-generation university attendees, eligible for free school meals, or care leavers
• Aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law serving disadvantaged communities

Legal Education: Advancing education of the public in the study of law, with specific emphasis on creating pathways into commercial law for underrepresented groups and supporting the social welfare law sector.

What They Don't Fund

• Traditional grants to universities or educational institutions (previous focus, now discontinued)
• General organizational funding
• Students at Russell Group universities (for Horizons programme)
• Individuals not working in social welfare law (for SWSQF)
• Students beyond first year of undergraduate study (for Horizons initial application)

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Governance and Leadership

The City Solicitors Educational Trust has 1 trustee, with governance provided through The City of London Solicitors' Company's Charities Committee. The Committee manages the Company's Charitable Fund and oversees CSET's two flagship initiatives.

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. All charitable work is conducted on a voluntary basis.

The Trust partners with multiple organizations for programme delivery:

• SEO London: Delivery partner for City Solicitors Horizons
• The Legal Education Foundation (TLEF): Supporting partner
• City of London Law Society (CLLS): Partner for SWSQF
• BARBRI: Training provider for SWSQF
• Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL): Partner for SWSQF
• Legal Aid Practitioners Group and Law Centres Network: Promotion and eligibility partners for SWSQF
• 30+ law firms: Funding supporters

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The City Solicitors Educational Trust does not have a traditional grant application process. The Trust operates two structured programmes with their own specific application cycles:

City Solicitors Horizons

Applications are open annually to eligible first-year undergraduate students. Applicants must:

• Be in first year of degree (law or non-law, but committed to legal career)
• Study at a university in London or South East England (non-Russell Group)
• Meet social mobility criteria: attended state-funded school AND either first-generation university student, OR eligible for free school meals/financial assistance, OR in care/care leaver
• Demonstrate strong academic potential
• Show commitment to joining the legal profession

Applications are submitted through the programme website: https://www.citysolicitorshorizons.org.uk

Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF)

2026 Application Timeline:

• Applications Open: Monday, 13 October 2025 at 12:00
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, 12 November 2025 at 17:00
• Shortlist Notifications: Week of 12 January 2026
• Interviews: Weeks of 26 January and 2 February 2026
• Final Notifications: Week of 2 March 2026

Required Documents:

• Eligibility Criteria document (must review)
• Guidance for Applicants document (must review)
• FAQ Document (must review)
• Employer Support Letter from a solicitor or COLP

Applications submitted through online portal. Contact: SWSQF@clls.org

Decision Timeline

City Solicitors Horizons: Annual selection process, with successful students notified in time to begin the three-year programme alongside their first year of study.

SWSQF: Approximately 5-month process from application opening to final notification (October to March cycle).

Success Rates

SWSQF: Described as competitive. The fund has secured funding for 65+ candidates from the applicant pool, with 22 in the first cohort and capacity for 98 candidates total under current funding.

City Solicitors Horizons: Competitive selection process for 50 places annually from students across non-Russell Group universities in London and South East England.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated for either programme. Applicants should contact programme administrators for guidance on reapplication if unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

For City Solicitors Horizons:

Social Mobility Credentials Are Essential: Applicants must demonstrate clear social mobility indicators - attending state-funded school plus one or more of: first-generation university student, free school meals eligibility, or care experience. These are non-negotiable requirements.

Academic Potential Matters: Universities assess candidates for “strong potential to succeed academically,” so strong performance in first year (or predicted grades for application) is important.

Demonstrate Genuine Legal Career Commitment: The programme seeks students “committed to joining the legal profession at this stage of their university course.” Articulate why you want a career in commercial law specifically.

Non-Russell Group Universities Only: The programme exclusively targets students from non-Russell Group universities to address underrepresentation from these institutions in City law firms.

For SWSQF:

Work in Social Welfare Law: Applicants must be working in social welfare law for organizations serving disadvantaged communities. The fund specifically aims to support the social welfare law sector.

Employer Support Letter Required: A support letter from a solicitor or COLP at your organization is mandatory, indicating organizational backing for your qualification journey.

Review All Four Application Documents: The fund requires applicants to download and review Eligibility Criteria, Guidance for Applicants, FAQ Document, and Employer Support Letter template before applying. Thorough preparation is expected.

Learn from First Cohort: The CLLS provides videos from the first cohort sharing application tips - use these insights to strengthen your application.

Programme Growth Indicates Demand: With £1 million in committed funding from 30+ firms supporting 98 candidates, the programme demonstrates sector-wide recognition of the need for more social welfare solicitors.

Success Story Context: Claire Friel, the first "SWSQF'icitor“ who qualified in criminal defence work, stated: ”It would have been impossible for me to fund this course myself and without SWSQF I do not know when I could hope to be qualified." Applications should clearly articulate financial need and career commitment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not a traditional grant-maker: CSET does not accept applications for organizational grants. They operate two specific structured programmes for individuals.
• Individuals, not organizations: Both programmes fund individuals directly - students (Horizons) or social welfare legal workers (SWSQF).
• Strict eligibility requirements: Both programmes have clear, non-negotiable eligibility criteria around educational background, university type, or employment sector. Review requirements carefully before applying.
• Partnership model: The Trust works through established delivery partners (SEO London for Horizons, CLLS/BARBRI for SWSQF), not direct grant relationships.
• Award-winning social mobility work: City Solicitors Horizons was highly commended at 2021 Law Society Awards and won the 2022 Modern Law Awards in the 'Supporting the Industry – 26+ Employees' category, demonstrating programme quality.
• Growing sector support: SWSQF has secured £1 million from 30+ law firms, indicating strong sector backing and potential for programme expansion.
• Long-term commitment: Both programmes represent multi-year commitments (3 years for Horizons, qualification journey for SWSQF), not one-time grants.

References

1. Charity Commission Register - The City Solicitors Educational Trust (Charity No. 1121091). Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4034839. Accessed: December 2025.

1. The City of London Solicitors' Company - City Solicitors' Educational Trust. Retrieved from: https://www.citysolicitors.org/charity/city-solicitors-educational-trust. Accessed: December 2025.

1. SEO London - City Solicitors Horizons programme information. Retrieved from: https://www.seo-london.org/city-solicitors-horizons. Accessed: December 2025.

1. City of London Law Society - Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund. Retrieved from: https://clls.org/initiatives/swsqf.html. Accessed: December 2025.

1. City of London Law Society - SWSQF For Applicants. Retrieved from: https://clls.org/initiatives/swsqf/applicants.html. Accessed: December 2025.

1. City of London Law Society - SWSQF achieves £1 million in committed funding. Retrieved from: https://clls.org/resource/swsqf1million.html. Accessed: December 2025.

1. SEO London - City Solicitors Horizons Programme Highly Commended at Prestigious Award (2021 Law Society Awards). Retrieved from: https://www.seo-london.org/news-and-statements/city-solicitors-horizons-programme-highly-commended-at-prestigious-award. Accessed: December 2025.

1. City of London Law Society - City Solicitors Horizons Celebrates Ten Years of Impact. Retrieved from: https://clls.org/resource/csh10years.html. Accessed: December 2025.

1. The City of London Solicitors' Company - Contact Details. Retrieved from: https://citysolicitors.org/contact/. Accessed: December 2025.