Scholarship offers career-enhancing opportunity to talented law student

Northumbria law student Niyah Waters has been accepted on the prestigious Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme.

Through the scheme, the 19-year-old from Bradford will benefit from financial support, work experience and mentoring to assist in his future career opportunities.   

The Scholarship was created in memory of Stephen Lawrence, a talented and ambitious 18-year-old who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993 in London. Established by international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2013 with support from Stephen’s mother Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, the Scholarship aims to address the under representation of black and mixed-race men from working class-backgrounds in large commercial law firms and other City institutions.

Applicants must be in their first year of study at a UK university and are evaluated using non-traditional methods to assess talent and potential across a wide variety of criteria, not just academic performance. Scholars participate in a 15-month development programme, which includes skills workshops, interview coaching, networking, mentoring, support with job applications and careers advice. They also receive work shadowing and a guaranteed interview for a training contract. Overall, the scheme endeavours to provide its scholars with the skills and confidence to thrive during their studies and beyond.

Niyah commented: “It is a huge privilege to be accepted for such a prestigious scholarship and to be learning so much from my personal mentors at Freshfields. Since starting I have also been provided with invaluable opportunities to network and connect with individuals from various City institutions, including Aon and The Bank of England, with whom I have been invited to take part in an internship. It is a fantastic opportunity and an incredible experience.”

Siobhan McConnell, Assistant Professor and Employability & Careers Coordinator at Northumbria Law School, added: “The Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme is a superb scheme and as a Law School we value greatly both our involvement in it and everything it stands for. Niyah is an exceptional student and this is a wonderful opportunity for him.”

For more information on studying law at Northumbria please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/law

Further details about the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship scheme and careers at Freshfields are available on the Freshfields website.