The Scholarship is aimed at first-year undergraduate students nominated by participating universities for the Scheme, and seeks to address the disproportionate under-representation of Black men from less socially mobile backgrounds in large commercial law firms and other careers in the City of London.
It is provided by global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and was launched in 2013 with support from Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE.
Benefits include a 15-month development programme, mentorship, commercial familiarisation though work-shadowing and £5,000 towards study-related costs. For those who wish it, there is an alternative pathway to an interview for a trainee associate programme at the firm.
Annette Byron, Freshfields’ Partner for Social Mobility, commented: "I am delighted to welcome the new cohort to the twelfth year of the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme. This year, we had the honour of considering 78 outstanding candidates, all showing exceptional potential. We look forward to support our 12 new scholars as they begin their professional paths and continue to contribute to the enduring impact of the Scheme."
Arthur, who is looking forward to starting the development programme, said: "Being selected for the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship is an honour. I’m excited to learn and grow alongside such a talented group of scholars, and I hope this experience will not only advance my own ambitions but also inspire others to pursue their goals."
We are thrilled at Arthur’s achievement in obtaining this important scholarship and hope he’s able to take full advantage of all the amazing opportunities that the Scheme will bring him. We are honoured to promote the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship to our undergraduates each year, and are proud to support talented students like Arthur as they pursue their goals.
"I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all’our candidates who participated in the assessment centres in London," Emma added. "Each of them demonstrated exceptional skill and professionalism, representing both themselves and the University with great distinction throughout the process."