Law Students Gain Scholarship Placements at Prestigious Merseyside Law Firms

21 May 2015

Law students at The Sixth Form College have benefitted from relationships with local Merseyside Law Firms by gaining Scholarship placements over the summer holidays to gain vital work experience within the field. The Sixth Form College Law department is working on a joint initiative with a number of legal practices in Merseyside to offer scholarships to students on a yearly basis.

Second year student Georgia Garland, a former Pensby High School for Girls student, has achieved a place on a scholarship scheme with Exchange Chambers. The College has a strong working relationship with Exchange Chambers as their Barristers regularly mentor Law students participating in Bar Mock Trial Competitions. Georgia, who has already completed a week-long work placement with Weightmans Solicitors during her time at College, will complete a mini-pupillage placement with Exchange Chambers. Georgia will have the opportunity to shadow Barristers and even a Judge in court. Georgia is also planning to study Law from September at The University of Liverpool.

Fellow student Esther Alawode, a former Prenton High School for Girls student, has achieved a scholarship placement with prestigious Law firm Weightmans Solicitors in Liverpool and will complete a week long placement in August. Esther has taken advantage of the multiple extra-curricular activities on offer within the College’s Law department participating in the Bar Mock Trials, Wirral Youth Parliament and the Wirral Youth Voice Conference.

Esther commented, “The extra opportunities I have had during my time at College have contributed massively to my A Level work and inspired me to pursue Law as a career.” Esther plans to study Law at Leicester University from September and hopes to work as a Barrister in the future.

First year student, Emma Donnelly, has also gained a work experience placement at Weightmans Solicitors during the summer holidays. The former Woodchurch High School student, achieved her place through the Prime Initiative scheme which is a nationwide initiative meaning Emma faced fierce competition for a place on the programme. Emma is delighted to have achieved a place, commenting, “I couldn’t believe it when I found out I’d been successful!”

Paula Blakemore, Head of Law, recommended Emma apply for the scheme and supported her with her application, “Paula was fantastic throughout the application process and helped to support me when putting together my personal statement. She always encourages you to push further and reach your full potential.”

Students Rhain Davies and Tom Dalton have also been accepted onto 2 scholarship placements with Carpenters Solicitors in Birkenhead. They will both spend a week working with the Personal Injury Law firm shadowing solicitors and seeing how cases are managed from beginning to end. Alongside experiencing the daily life of a solicitor they may also have the opportunity to attend court.

Rhain, a former Wirral Grammar School for Boys student, who also studies History and Sociology, said, “I was pleased to discover I’d been accepted onto the scholarship scheme and glad that I will have an opportunity to experience law in a working practice.” Rhain is planning to study Law at Leeds University from September

Tom, a former Woodchurch student, who also plans to study Law from September at The University of Manchester added, “I was really happy to find out I had successfully gained a place onto the Scholarship scheme. I have been passionate about a career in Law for many years so I am looking forward to gaining first-hand experience of a solicitor’s role.”