Overview

This Scholarship is given in memory of Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore (1948-2020), Law alumnus of Queen’s University Belfast (1969), former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

Queen’s University and the Bar of Northern Ireland both meant a great deal to Lord Kerr and were a source of great pride.

As a lasting legacy to Lord Kerr’s commitment to both, and to his vision of a more diverse Bar, this Scholarship will be awarded annually to one Queen’s University Belfast Law graduate, to fund their fees for the Bar Trainee course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS).

Further Information

This award covers payment of IPLS fees for the one-year IPLS Bar course. Currently (2023/24) £10,400.

Eligibility

Applications are invited from LLB students who completed their final year at Queen’s University Belfast in the academic year 2022/23 and who identify as being from a Widening Participation (WP) background. This could include:

• Participation in one of Queen’s WP Programmes such as the Pathway Opportunity Programme or Senior Academy;
• Being an undergraduate student in receipt of a maintenance grant, a special support grant or a means tested bursary;
• Being in receipt of a means tested benefit such as Housing Benefit or Universal Credit;
• Being in the care of a Health and Social Care Trust or Local Authority for three months or more from the age of 14 years;
• Being from a disadvantaged area (Quintile 1) as defined by NISRA (Northern Ireland Statistical Research Agency).Quintile 1 (Q1) represents the 20% most deprived areas as per the tracker in this link; https://www.nisra.gov.uk/news/new-ni-multiple-deprivation-measures-2017-lookup-tool
• Being in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance.

This criteria will be verified with student records and other verification may be requested.

Applicants are also required to write up to 500 words on the impact this Scholarship will make on their ambitions to join the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Closing Date: To be confirmed (August 2023)

How to Apply: To be provided

Any queries please contact: Lindsay Martin; l.s.martin@qub.ac.uk  

TERMS & CONDITIONS – Lord Kerr Scholarship

1. If successful in the application process, the successful student must be fully registered for their place on the full-time Bar Trainee course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), Queen’s University Belfast, starting in the academic year 2023/24.
2. The scholarship cannot be used in lieu of any required deposit and no cash alternative is available.
3. The Scholarship is for entry in the autumn semester of the academic year 2023/24 and cannot be used for 2024/25 entry or any other year.
4. Students must be self-funded.
5. If you are in receipt of funding (either tuition fees or tuition fees and living costs) from an external sponsorship body such as Government, a charity or a private organisation you will not be eligible for this Scholarship. This excludes students in receipt of educational loans.
6. As a recipient of the Lord Kerr Scholarship award, you agree to participate in marketing related activities and/or events to promote and share your experiences of the Lord Kerr Scholarship. You will also be required to produce a short report of your studies at IPLS to be shared with the family of Lord Kerr.
7. The University is unable to consider requests for increased and/or further funding. The amount of scholarship offered is non-negotiable.
8. The University’s decision regarding successful scholars to the course is final, and no further correspondence shall be entered into.
9. The University reserves the right to vary all or any scholarship awards and regulations at its sole discretion.