11KBW established an annual scholarship for black students on the qualification course for barristers (the BPTC) for an initial 5-year period from 2021/2022. We are delighted to announce that we are now accepting applications, the closing date for applications is Tuesday 15 February 2022.
The 11KBW Scholarship will provide the successful student with:
- A scholarship award of £30,000 towards tuition fees and maintenance;
- Mentoring from members of 11KBW during the BPTC and pupillage years;
- A guaranteed assessed mini-pupillage at 11KBW; and
- If the student’s score on the assessed mini-pupillage is within a particular range, relative to other applicant, the offer of a guaranteed interview for pupillage at 11KBW (if the candidate has chosen to apply to 11KBW).
The first 11KBW scholarship was awarded last year to Josiah Senu. We have no doubt that Josiah will be a star of the Bar in years to come. He is an outstanding lawyer, with a 1st-class degree from LSE, an LLM from Harvard Law School (on a Kennedy Memorial Trust Scholarship) and the BCL. He is currently studying for the BPTC at City Law School and intends to practise at the commercial Bar. Josiah grew up as the son of working class Nigerian immigrants in London, and works with Pathways to Law, and the Sutton Trust.
Josiah was selected from an exceptional field by a panel including Maggie Semple, OBE, FCGI and Paul McFarlane FRSA.
Dr Maggie Semple OBE
Maggie is a member of the Queen’s Counsel Appointments Selection Panel. She works with many public and private sector organisations at a senior level on leadership development, cultural change and organizational development.
She has held a number of senior roles including being a member of several high profile Government and EU task groups and has represented the UK in Greece and Hong Kong. From 2001-2007 Maggie was a Civil Service Commissioner.
Maggie is a Fellow of the City & Guilds Institute, a trustee of the Kerry Nicholls Dance Company and a Governor of the South Bank Arts Centre.
Paul McFarlane
Paul is a partner at Capsticks solicitors, specialising in employment law. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, Industrial Law Society Law Society Employment Law Committee, Black Solicitors Network, Board Member, an Appointment Panel Member of IMPRESS (Press Regulator) and an external assessor or the College of Policing.
Jane McCafferty KC, Chair of our Equality and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, explained:
“11KBW is committed to taking positive action to address the underrepresentation and disadvantage experienced by black students and barristers, in particular in areas of practice where there has been entrenched underrepresentation. The costs of initial qualification and the existing underrepresentation are barriers to entry to our profession. We recognise the need for financial and other assistance, dedicated to supporting black students on the BPTC, to encourage bright and ambitious black people to apply to the Bar and to consider it as a profession where they are welcome and can develop their potential.”
For application information please visit; 11KBW Scholarship website: https://11kbwscholarship.com/
