Gray's Inn Scholarships – Legal Education Funding

Overseas Scholarships and Internship Funding

Reminder of deadline
There are four application deadlines per year:

31 March
30 June
30 September
31 December

Should the deadline fall on a weekend or public holiday, then it will be extended to the end of the next working day. Following each deadline a shortlist will be drawn. Interviews will take place within one month following the application deadline.

Procedure

There is a standard application procedure for the Overseas Scholarships and internship funding. Each candidate must submit a letter (or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) providing:

full details of the proposed course of study, including financial requirements;
a statement of any other matters, activities or circumstances which the candidate thinks likely to be of assistance to the Committee, e.g. how the experience will prepare the candidate for pupillage; service the candidate has contributed to the Inn;
details of any applications for pupillage and the results;
particulars of any grant for the same purpose which has been obtained or applied for from other sources;
the present intention regarding the candidate’s future career;
the candidate’s most recent CV and
two references - one academic, one professional.

Candidates must arrange for the references to be sent separately and directly by the referees to the Director of Education. An original hard copy or a signed, scanned copy sent by email (to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) is acceptable.

General conditions for the Overseas Scholarships

The Scholarships are open to students and barristers of the Inn who have not been in practice for more than 7 years.
The Scholarships Committee may ask the candidate to report on the period of study following its completion

Details of the SCHOLARSHIPS, awards and benefactors:

The Churchill Scholarship

Founded by the Inn in memory of the Rt Hon Sir Winston Churchill KG OM CH (1874-1965).
Honorary Bencher from 1942 to 1965

Purpose and Factors
The purpose of the Scholarship is to enable the winner to study abroad (either at a University or with foreign lawyers or otherwise) for a period of at least three months in some aspect of foreign or Commonwealth Law, to be chosen by the candidate and approved by the Scholarships Committee. Preference will normally be given to applications to study in Europe or the Commonwealth. All candidates must either: (i.) hold a recognised academic post or (ii.) be intending topractise. All candidates must state their intention to use their legal knowledge (by practise, teaching or otherwise) either in the United Kingdom or in some part of the Commonwealth.

The David Karmel European Scholarship

Founded by the Band Trust in memory of David Karmel CBE QC (1907-1982).
Admitted 1925, Called 1928, Bencher 1954, Treasurer 1970.

Purpose and Factors
The successful candidate will be expected to undertake a course of study, which should normally be of at least three months duration and be related to some aspect of the law of member countries of the Community.

The Graham Challis European Scholarship

Founded by Mr and Mrs Alan Challis in memory of their son, Graham Donald Challis (BA Cantab), who was tragically killed the week before Call Night in 1981.
Educated at the Lycee Francais; Collet Court; St Paul's School and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Remembered for his cello playing, sailing and willingness to help others. The piano that stands in Hall was dedicated in his memory.

Award for a Stage or Legal Training Position in Europe
The Inn may make at least one award per annum, up to a maximum of £5,000, to finance a legal training position in Europe. An example of such a position would be a “stage” placement in the Legal Departments of the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels or Luxembourg.

(A "stage" of at least 5 months duration can count as all of the practising 6 months of pupillage with the prior permission of the Joint Regulations Committee of the Bar Council and the Masters of the Bench of Gray’s Inn.)

Details of the SCHOLARSHIPS, awards and benefactors (ADMINISTERED BY OTHER INNS):

Pegasus Awards
The four Inns support the Pegasus Awards Scheme which offers tenants and employed barristers within five years of practice the opportunity to travel abroad and work as lawyers in other common law jurisdictions and the European Union. Scholarships are tenable for between six and twelve weeks. A host law firm assists the scholar to find accommodation and provides expenses. There are up to 12 scholarships annually to the following countries: Australia, Bermuda, Hong Kong, New Zealand, USA and countries of the EU. The Trust also welcomes the opportunity to support scholars in placements they have personally arranged.

Inner Temple administers the Scheme on behalf of the four Inns.
Further information and application forms are available from the Inner Temple Scholarships Officer .

Harold G. Fox Scholarships
The Harold G. Fox Fund was established to enable members to undertake a year long "placement" in the litigation department of a large Toronto law firm, arranged by the Trustees of the Fund in Toronto, or a post-graduate degree at a university in Ontario for which candidates make their own arrangements.

Administered by Middle Temple the scholarships are open to members that are under five years’ Call, or about to be Called, of any of the Inns.
Further information is available from the Middle Temple Scholarships Officer .

The Hon. Sir Peter Bristow Scholarship
One annual award of £9,000 is made to a member of any Inn under five years’ Call or about to be Called to the Bar to enable that member to study for five months the workings of the Commission of the European Union in Brussels and institutions of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Completion of this can count towards the second six months of pupillage.

Further information is available from the Middle Temple Scholarships Officer.