Scholarship lays the foundation for Maymunah’s legal career dream

A budding legal eagle is on her way to her dream career after a scholarship helped her to complete a law degree at the University of Leicester.

Maymunah Valimia was one of two students to receive the very first Freeths Mukesh Patel Award for Law, which is open for law students at Leicester and De Montfort universities.

The £8,000 bursary from Leicester law firm Freeths enabled Maymunah to devote more time to her studies, and less in part-time work, while an undergraduate. As part of the bursary package, she was also able to enjoy a spell of summer work experience with Freeths – and was mentored by one of the company’s corporate team.

This week, Maymunah graduated from the University – and she credits the scholarship as being instrumental for her education, and her career prospects.

Maymunah said: “The award made a huge difference to my university experience.

“Financially, it meant I could reduce the number of hours I spent working part-time, which gave me more time to focus on my studies and take advantage of opportunities I might otherwise have had to turn down.

“Because I had that extra flexibility, I was able to gain valuable work experience at Freeths, where I developed practical legal skills, built my commercial awareness and made connections with solicitors and trainees that have continued beyond the placement.

“Those relationships have given me invaluable advice, mentorship and confidence.”

The team at Freeths was so impressed with Maymunah that she has since been offered a training contract with the firm, which she’ll take up in 2027, subject to her passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.

With her undergraduate days now behind her, Leicester-born Maymunah is able to look back fondly at her time on campus.

She said: “What I appreciated most about studying law at Leicester was the variety of opportunities outside of lectures. There were plenty of networking events, careers talks and employer workshops, so it was easy to learn more about different areas of the legal profession and make informed decisions about my future.

“I had my heart set on Freeths since the beginning of my second year and studying Law at Leicester made my goals just that much more achievable.”

The Freeths Mukesh Patel Award for Law was established in 2025 in memory of Mukesh Patel, former managing partner of Freeths' Leicester office.

It is just one of a raft of scholarships, bursaries and discounts University of Leicester students can apply for.

Maymunah was one of a number of Leicester students graduating this week, who had been supported by philanthropic funding and donor-funded awards.

They included:

• Stoneygate Scholarship: Kaz Launa Hewage, Cassidy Stobbart and a third recipient who wishes to remain anonymous

• Gittins Family Charitable Trust Bursary: Linara Rathnayake, Christabel Orah, Juwairiyah Irfan, and a fourth recipient who wishes to remain anonymous
• Sir Laurence Howard Rutland Scholarship: Harsha Surve
• Stefan Cross KC Award for Law: Nicole McCreedy
• Steve Simons Bursary: Xuewen Yang and Danielle Megaffin
• Juliet & Michael Humphries KC Award in Law and Jeffers-Nunn Award: Leoni Coyle
• Margaret Rankin Pitt Scholarship: student wishes to remain anonymous
• Sylvia Ladyman Award in Geography: David Asouzu
• Sylvia Ladyman Award in Biological Sciences: Chloe Pearson
• William Ruddick Award: Xuewen Yang.

In addition, the following scholars also achieved graduation prizes, some of which are funded by donations. These include:

• Stoneygate Scholar Kaz Launa Hewage received the IMechE Best Student Certificate 2026
  
• Feeths Mukesh Patel Award and Jeffers-Nunn Award recipient Leoni Coyle received the Leicester Law School Prize 2026

This year the University publically launched its ambitious 2121: Founders of The Future philanthropy campaign, which aims to raise £100m to support its world-leading research, education and impact in its second century.

Director of Advancement, Steve Corbett, said: “Maymunah’s story demonstrates the true impact of a philanthropic gift. Without it, she may have struggled to combine her studies with working part-time, and she may never have got that foot in the door of such a respected law firm as Freeths.

“I’d like to thank Freeths for their generous support of Maymunah, who clearly has a bright future in the legal profession. I would also like to extend my gratitude to every single organisation and individual who have chosen to provide such amazing backing for all of our graduating students.

“This summer’s graduations showcase not only academic success, but also the vital role of scholarships in widening access to higher education and empowering students from diverse backgrounds to thrive.”

Visit the 2121 web page to find out more about supporting the University’s philanthropic campaign.