CMS awards first social mobility bursaries
CMS has awarded bursaries to four winners of a competition designed to support UK students from areas of social need who have chosen law as a potential career.
The social mobility initiative was launched to reach high quality candidates from across the UK who will be in the first generation of their family to attend university.
Over 180 students registered, with 63 going on to submit essays on a legal/ethical topic.
Twelve 17 year-old students were invited to CMS’ London office for an interview and to participate in various training exercises while they were monitored and evaluated by CMS partners and employees.
A judging panel then selected four students - Adina Khan from Liverpool, Alina Mahmood from Birmingham, Brittany Tilling from Grimsby and Connor Atkinson from Middlesbrough - who will each receive £2,500 per year while studying for their law degree.
All twelve short-listed candidates will be offered mentoring support by CMS lawyers through their applications to university and a “taster” work experience placement next year.
Senior associate Sarah Hyde led a team of 60 CMS volunteers over a nine month period to undertake a range of duties including, nominating schools, designing essay questions, marking essays, and interviewing students.
In a statement, Dick Tyler, CMS Senior Partner said “We are constantly looking at ways to make the legal profession more accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. The bursary competition is a way of reaching talented students who have the potential and a real desire to make it into law.”
Khan, who travelled to London from Liverpool said “The bursary will allow me to come out of university with less debt and the support that will be offered through my own personal mentor will be invaluable.”
Teachers and current Year 12 students can obtain more information about the summer 2013 bursary competition by emailing bursary@cms-cmck.com.
In August, Tyler was appointed to the inaugural board of Prime, the profession-wide social mobility scheme aimed at offering quality work experience opportunities to disadvantaged students (13 August 2012).
