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Law Scholarships

Benefit from financial support (£3000 per year) during your university studies, plus mentoring and paid work experience.

About the CMS Law Scholarship

Applications for 2024 are closed

Scholarship, mentoring and work experience throughout your time at university

We believe that a career in law should be open to everyone. Since 2012, we’ve helped some of the brightest and most creative legal minds launch their career. The Law Scholarship scheme provides financial assistance, mentoring, guidance throughout the UCAS application process, sustained support throughout undergraduate studies and valuable paid work experience.

We are proud that CMS Law Scholarship winners have gone on to study at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities and have secured training contracts at some of the world’s largest law firms, including CMS.

Locations

Across the UK

Eligibility

  • Year 12 students (England and Wales)
  • Year 13 students (Northern Ireland)

Our Scholarships are for those from backgrounds which research shows are less likely to secure a place at a prestigious university or establish a career in law.

Application deadlines

We run two Law Scholarship programmes: the England, Wales and Northern Ireland programme and the Scotland programme. The two programmes are incredibly similar, however it is important that you apply to the programme that reflects your current location.

Register your interest for future opportunities please click here.

What to expect

Win a Scholarship and, to give you a head start in your law career, we’ll provide you with the following. Mentoring, paid work experience, fast track to assessment days and ongoing support are offered to everyone who is invited to an assessment day, regardless of whether they win a Scholarship or not.

Financial support

Up to 10 individuals will receive £3000 per year for each year of their degree

Mentoring

Support from one of our lawyers with your UCAS application and the LNAT examination if you are planning on taking this, and a trainee buddy to give more informal support with starting your career in law

Work experience

The opportunity to complete a bespoke work experience programme in your first year of university – and be paid £450 to do so!

Fast-track opportunities

Many participants on this programme are fast-tracked to future Emerging Talent programmes and assessment centres for our Training Contract

Sustained support

From budgeting workshops to graduation celebrations, you can expect our support and guidance throughout your undergraduate studies and beyond

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

You must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:

  • You’re in Year 12 in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
  • You attend a state-funded school, sixth form or further education college
  • Your parents and grandparents did not attend university
  • You intend to apply to study at university through the 2024 / 2025 UCAS process
  • You are passionate about pursuing a career in law
  • You have not been convicted of a criminal offence
  • You are not related to any partner here at CMS

You must also meet one of the following criteria:

  • You are, or have been at any time between ages 11 and 16, eligible for free school meals (or would be if you attended a sixth form or college). Further resources regarding these free school meals are available for England & Wales, Northern Ireland.
  • Your school from years 7–11 has 20% or more students eligible for free school meals. Further resources regarding these free school meals are available for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
  • You are, or have been, a child looked after/care experienced
  • Your home address is in POLAR4 quintile 1*

*Check your postcode for eligibility. If you are unsure about your eligibility or would like more information, please contact us at Law.Scholarship@cms-cmno.com

Application process

Interested in applying? Here’s an outline of the different stages involved.

Essay competition and online application form

Essay competition and online application form

We’ll ask you to write an essay of 750 – 1000 words on a choice of two topics, and complete an application form telling us more about you, what winning a scholarship would mean, and why you’re interested in a career in law.

Assessment day

Assessment day

Consists of an interview and group exercise. During the day you’ll also have the chance to talk to our trainees about life at CMS and meet your mentor. If necessary, we’ll offer financial support (and accommodation) to enable you to attend. Further details can be found in our FAQs.

Law Scholarship FAQs

Any further questions?

Take a look at our FAQs page