A message from the Chair of COMBAR concerning this ground-breaking initiative:
COMBAR together with the Law Faculty of the University of Oxford are delighted to announce the creation of two new scholarships available to students of Black or Mixed Black ethnicity to undertake the Bachelor of Civil Law course (the BCL) at the University of Oxford, starting with the academic year 2022- 2023.
The scholarships will be available to those who demonstrate exceptional academic merit or potential, who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, and who indicate a serious interest in commencing a career at the commercial bar following completion of their studies. As a further innovation, the scholarships will cover not only their tuition fees, but also a maintenance grant to enable the students to meet their accommodation and living expenses for the year. Priority will be given to applicants with the greatest financial need. The cost of these scholarships is to be borne equally by COMBAR and the Faculty of Law of the University of Oxford.
This is a ground-breaking initiative and one which will help encourage the next generation of talent, irrespective of where they have taken their undergraduate degree, to benefit from teaching at the very highest level and explore the possibility of an exciting career in law at the commercial bar. COMBAR’s new mentoring scheme is also available further to assist students with the process of applying to and thriving at the Commercial Bar.
COMBAR and the Law Faculty of the University of Oxford very much look forward not just to working together on this in the coming years, but above all to welcoming the scholars and guiding them forward on a career path that fulfils their aspiration.
From David Joseph QC, COMBAR Chair
I am delighted that together with Oxford we have been able to create these important scholarships, which I believe are best in class. Together with a number of other important outreach initiatives at COMBAR, this scheme will help another generation of talent to further their legal studies at the very highest level and come to the Commercial Bar. This scheme is a practical step to further our aim of strengthening a Commercial Bar which reflects the make-up of the society in which we all live up and down the country. I want to thank the University of Oxford, Professor Chen-Wishart and Professor Leczykiewicz for their vision, enthusiasm and hard work in making this happen.
From Professor Mindy Chen-Wishart, Dean of the Faculty of Law, the University of Oxford
We are delighted to work with COMBAR to ensure that talented students are not prevented by financial need from taking the BCL course. Like the gene pool, diversity strengthens the university and the legal profession. We look forward to welcoming the COMBAR-Oxford Law scholars to the rich, challenging, and rewarding experience that is the BCL.