The Law Society - The Graham Rushton Award for visually impaired law students

What the Graham Rushton Award gives you

You will receive a one-off grant of about 11,700 EUR (approximately £10,000) to help fund your law degree in the UK. You can use this amount towards exam fees, books, study materials or other study-related costs. The money comes from a bequest by Graham Rushton, a blind lawyer. The grant is jointly administered by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers (SOVIL). If the selection panel selects more than one applicant in a given year, the grant may be divided amongst several people.

Who can apply

• Sight loss: You are officially registered as blind or visually impaired.
• Field of study: You’re studying English law.
• Where you study: Your degree programme is based at a university in the United Kingdom.
• Course place: Your place on the course has been confirmed.
• Career step: You have received an apprenticeship contract, another formal offer of employment, or a similar offer.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Funding gap: Priority is given to students at a time when there is little or no other public funding available.

How to apply

Please request the application form by email from an RNIB career development adviser and submit it by 31 March. If you are shortlisted, you will take part in an online interview with staff from SOVIL and the RNIB in July. Funding will be approved by the end of August.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is very narrowly defined: you must be a student of English law in the United Kingdom who is registered as blind or visually impaired, meaning that very few people apply for it. If you clearly meet these criteria and are at a stage where you are not receiving any other public funding, your chances are good. As only one or a few scholarships are awarded each year, it is to your advantage if you can provide clear evidence of your financial hardship.