The Law Society - Vernon Cade Fund

Vernon Cade Fund grant

You will receive a one-off grant of grant of about EUR 1,150 (ranging from 500 to 2,000 GBP) to cover the costs of your training as a solicitor. A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who advises clients and handles legal matters. The fund originates from the estate of Grace Cade, the widow of a Cambridge lawyer, and is run as a small charitable organisation. As income is limited, large grants are unlikely. Funds are usually awarded once a year in the summer.

Who can apply

• Career stage: You are training to become a solicitor. You have been offered a training contract or have already started one; this is the paid practical phase of your training. You may also apply if you are sitting the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
• Field: You are undertaking legal training to become a solicitor.
• Cambridgeshire link: You live in Cambridgeshire, work there or are planning to work there. A closer connection to this county would strengthen your case.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.

How to apply

Please request an application form from the fund’s contact person in Cambridge and return it. In the past, the deadline has typically been around the beginning of October or mid-July, so you should submit your application in the first half of the year if possible, before the summer allocation round.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very narrowly defined. You must be a trainee solicitor and have a genuine connection to Cambridgeshire, meaning that very few people are eligible. If you clearly meet these criteria and can demonstrate strong local ties, your chances are good. Please note, however, that the fund has limited resources, so the grant will merely supplement your costs rather than cover them in full.