Grants, trusts and funding
There are some grants, trusts and funding opportunities
available to new lawyers. Many of the grants, trusts and
scholarships are limited in terms of the number of people they can
assist in any given year and they are subject to
change. The Society does not control any of these trusts,
grants or scholarships (although we administer the Pritchard
Educational Trust on behalf of the trustees). For further
information, you should make direct contact with the relevant
body.
The decision to embark on the route to qualification as a
solicitor should never be dependent on securing any such
funding. Nevertheless, we hope new lawyers find the list below
useful.
Pritchard Educational Trust
This Trust was established to assist those with academic ability
who wish to qualify as solicitors but who, through financial
constraints, are unable to do so. Particular emphasis is given to
those about to undertake the Diploma in Professional Legal
Practice. The grant will be for such period and for such amount as
the trustees determine. The trustees' decision may depend upon
academic achievement. In order to ensure you do not miss the
deadline for applications, please refer to the timeline below:
- Applications are
now open
- 29th June 2012 - Deadline for
applications
- August - Applications are shortlisted. All
applicants are advised whether or not they have been shortlisted to
be awarded a grant
- August/September - Shortlisted applications
are considered by the Board of Trustees. All shortlisted applicants
are advised whether or not they have been successful in being
awarded a grant
- September/October - References are checked and
grants awarded.
Please note that there have been changes to the Student Awards
Agency for Scotland (SAAS) funding arrangements for session
2012/13. The Society has prepared a comprehensive guidance
statement outlining the changes, which should be read by
all intending Diploma applicants. A copy of the statement is
attached to the Diploma application forms each year.
The Clark Foundation
The Clark Foundation for Legal Education invites applications
for grants and scholarships from people practising law in Scotland,
whether as solicitors or advocates, and from people studying at
Scottish universities or other institutions of higher education
based in Scotland.
The purpose of the Foundation is to promote and advance the
legal and business education and training of Scots lawyers and
students of Scots law. Suitable applicants can undertake (a)
courses of study in Scots law or comparative legal systems or the
law of the European Community or foreign languages or business
management or (b) the writing of legal textbooks. Alternatively,
they can undertake research in any one or more aspects of Scots law
and/or its relationship with other legal systems or the
institutions of the European Community.
Awards will be made annually in September and application forms
should be returned no later than the end of March. To request an
application, visit the Tods Murray website.
If you are aware of other trusts or funding
opportunities which the Society could promote to new lawyers,
please email newlawyers@lawscot.org.uk.