Applications now open for science students interested in law
STEM Future Lawyers has joined forces with BPP University Law School for a second year on a law conversion scholarship for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) students.
The £5,000 scholarship has gone live this morning, with applications open for one month until 15 December. It will be granted to one STEM Future Lawyers member — or split between two — to kick-start their career in law. The award can be put towards the law school’s existing Graduate Diploma in Law (the year-long conversion course non-law students must complete to become a solicitor) or its new SQE-slanted GDL, the Law Conversion Course (PGDL), from September 2020.
As law firms and their clients pour resources into artificial intelligence (AI) and other lawtech products, to boost efficiency, STEM students are increasingly in demand in the legal profession.
Ishan Kolhatkar, director of group education technologies at BPP, formally announced the scholarship at last night’s STEM Future Lawyers panel event and law fair held at LexisNexis in London.
Ishan Kolhatkar (@BPTC_Lecturer and head of group technologies at @BPPGroup) announcing the 2020 @stemlawyers–@BPPGroup STEM GDL scholarship at last night's student event. Find out more here ?? https://t.co/kCNpajzsrq pic.twitter.com/h8jGS3RBhR
— STEM Future Lawyers (@stemlawyers) November 15, 2019
Kolhatkar said:
“We’re proud to see our STEM Future Lawyers scholarship enter its second year. As technology continues to reshape the legal landscape, STEM graduates remain an asset to employers as they increasingly seek talent with innovative mindsets and diverse skillsets. Our legal training is always evolving to match these changing professional requirements, ensuring our students stay one step ahead of the competition.
“The use of innovative technology is prevalent throughout our new PGDL, where students will study using our intuitive learning platform, BPP Adapt, and develop their skills within our Virtual Practice Environment. Those continuing onto our LPC can also take advantage of legal technology and technical project management training.”
A panel of legal education experts will assess the applicants, with the successful scholar announced in the New Year.
Earlier this year we reported a University of Manchester biomedical sciences student and a University of York chemistry graduate scooped the first-ever STEM GDL scholarship. Syeda Rubab Zahra and Saskia Boardman were chosen ahead of a host of hotshot applicants to each receive £2,500 towards their GDL fees. Both started their courses in September this year.
Applications are open to all STEM students and graduates interested in a career in the law. The deadline for submissions is 15 December 2019 at 23:59pm.
STEM Future Lawyers is the UK’s dedicated law careers network for STEM students looking to make the leap into law. Since its launch in 2016, STEM Future Lawyers has grown to over 1,500 members, all of whom are STEM students. You can sign up to STEM Future Lawyers, which is a Legal Cheek sister site, here.
