The Law Society - HRLA Bursary Award

What the HRLA Bursary gives you

You will receive fully funded, paid work placement in human rights law in the UK. The highest scholarships amount to about 4,900 EUR (GBP 4,208) for a 8-week placement at JUSTICE, a leading human rights organisation. There, you will support the legal team with research, advocacy work and court proceedings. There are also several smaller grants of around 615 EUR (526 GBP) for 5-day mini-traineeships at 5 Essex Chambers, a law firm specialising in human rights and public law. During these placements, you will shadow solicitors and discuss cases. All placements are remunerated at the London Living Wage. The scholarship programme is administered by the Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA), which has been awarding these scholarships since 2006 to support people who would otherwise be unable to afford unpaid or poorly paid work in the field of human rights. The applicant with the highest score will also receive the Peter Duffy Memorial Prize as an honour.

Who can apply

• Study level: You are currently studying law, undertaking a postgraduate law programme, or following a legal retraining or qualification course (GDL, BPTC/BTC, SQE or LPC), or have completed such a course within the last five years.
• Field: You’re studying law with a clear focus on human rights.
• Commitment: You can express a genuine interest in working in the field of human rights legislation in the UK.
• Career stage: You have not yet been offered a trainee solicitor placement (your first year of training as a solicitor) or a training contract. Exceptions to this rule are made only in exceptional circumstances.
• Financial need: You need the financial means to take up the work placement. This is by far the most important criterion and is weighted twice as heavily as any other.
• Nationality and age: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, and there is no age limit.

How to apply

Please complete the HRLA application form and email it to the association by the deadline. In the last round, the deadline was midnight on 3 October. CVs and cover letters will not be accepted. Applications will be assessed anonymously – without your name or university being disclosed – and shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.

How realistic are your chances?

Only a handful of internship places are offered each year, so competition is fierce. However, the applicant pool is narrow: you must be a law student specialising in UK law or a recent graduate who genuinely needs financial support. As financial need accounts for half of the overall assessment, a clear and honest account of your personal circumstances is just as important as your legal experience. If you fit the specific profile and can demonstrate a genuine need, your prospects are good.