Freeths Law Scholarship

The deadline for applications for this award has now passed and we are no longer accepting applications.

Local law firm, Freeths, has committed to supporting law students at the University of Leicester in memory of former Managing Partner Mukesh Patel. In addition to receiving a Skylark Scholarship of £4,000 per year for three years, Freeths are also offering a generous wraparound package, including:

• Mentoring throughout your course by Freeths employees
• Paid summer placements
• A paid graduate apprenticeship based at the Freeths Leicester Office at the end of your course (subject to achieving a first-class degree)
• On successful completion of this, an invitation to sit the SQE 1 and 2 exam and if passed, a job with the firm

For academic year 2023/24, one Freeths Law Scholarship is available.

Skylark Scholarship Programme

The Skylark Scholarship programme has been established thanks to the generous support of philanthropic donors, who have made gifts to the University of Leicester to support talented home fee paying students facing financial challenges during their university studies.

These scholarships are intended to help recipients with the gap in funding between available maintenance loans and the average cost of studying at university. Each successful applicant will receive £4,000 per year for three years of their degree course. The scholarship will be paid in equal instalments in February of the first, second and third years of undergraduate study.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to be considered for a Freeths Law Scholarship, you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be in receipt of an offer from the University of Leicester to study your first undergraduate Law degree course, and start your course in September 2023
2. Be studying full time and campus based
3. Be assessed as paying home tuition fees
4. Achieve at least 128 UCAS tariff points (e.g. ABB in A Levels). In exceptional circumstances, consideration may be given to an applicant in receipt of a contextual offer
5. Have been permanently resident in the UK for the past three years in an area of low participation in higher education (POLAR 4, Quintile 1)
   or 
   Have been permanently resident in the UK for the past three years in an area of socio-economic deprivation (IMD Decile 1-2)
6. Have a household income of £25,000 or below, as confirmed by the Student Loans Company

How to apply

Simply complete the application form, providing a supporting statement of up to 350 words to explain what difference a scholarship would make to you. You could include information about barriers you have already overcome to reach higher education (only if you feel comfortable doing so), your ambitions for your time at university and the future, and what a scholarship would mean to you.

In addition, to be considered for the Freeths Law Scholarship applicants must also submit a response to the essay question below. This essay question has been set by staff within the Leicester Law School. The essay question to answer is:

"Find a news story in the media from the past 12 months where you feel that an injustice has occurred. Explain what you would change in the legal system to avoid such injustices recurring in future, and why this inspires you to study law."

Your essay should not exceed 1000 words. Essay submissions should be emailed. Please include your name and student ID number with your essay submission.

The main application form and essay must be submitted by 10.30am BST, Tuesday 31 October.

How successful applicants will be selected

Applications for the Freeths Law Scholarship submitted by the deadline stated above will be screened to confirm applicants meet all of the necessary Skylark Scholarship criteria. The applicants who submitted the three best essays as judged by the Leicester Law School will then be shortlisted and considered by the scholarship panel. These three applicants will be interviewed by the scholarship panel. Based on the outcomes of these interviews, a final successful candidate and recipient of the Freeths Law Scholarship will be selected.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application and essay submission in October by the Development and Alumni Relations Office. Applicants who have been shortlisted will be contacted separately to arrange for the interview with the scholarship panel.

If you have any questions please do get in touch with the Development and Alumni Relations Team at stewardship@leicester.ac.uk.