The Gray's Inn Scholarships Trust

Charity Number: 313604

Annual Expenditure: £1.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,500,000+
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: 5-6 weeks from interview to full award notification
  • Grant Range: £2,500 - £25,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (England and Wales)
  • Scholarships Awarded: 95 Bar Course, 25-35 GDL, plus pupillage and other awards

Contact Details

Address: The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, Treasury Office, 8 South Square, Gray's Inn, London WC1R 5ET

Phone: 020 7458 7803

Email: scholarships@graysinn.org.uk

Website: https://www.graysinn.org.uk/scholarships

Overview

The Gray's Inn Scholarships Trust (Charity 313604) was established to advance education in the law for students and members of Gray's Inn by awarding scholarships to all with ability. Gray's Inn currently distributes over £1.5 million annually in scholarships to support talented individuals pursuing careers at the Bar of England and Wales. The Trust has 3 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration. All scholarships are awarded on merit, with the value of each award informed by an assessment of each scholar's individual circumstances. Gray's Inn is committed to ensuring that no capable individual is unable to access the profession for financial reasons alone. The funding comes from income generated from commercial and residential lettings on the Inn's estate, supplemented by donations and charitable bequests to the Trust.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Bar Course Scholarships (95 awards annually)

  • Base award: £5,000
  • Additional means-tested funding available up to £25,000
  • Application deadline: 31st October annually for the following year
  • Supports candidates undertaking the vocational component of Bar training
  • Online application portal with fixed annual deadline

GDL Scholarships (25-35 awards annually)

  • Range: £2,500 - £15,000
  • Supports students undertaking law conversion courses and senior status law degrees
  • Values determined by means testing
  • Online application required

Residential Scholarships

  • Provides free accommodation within Gray's Inn estate during Bar Course studies
  • Available to Bar Course scholars
  • Separate application and interview process (typically early April)
  • Benefits include access to the Inn community and legal London

Pupillage Scholarships

  • Senior Scholarships: Four awards of £5,000 each for pupils of exceptional merit
  • Ann Goddard Scholarships: Over £80,000 distributed annually for pupils building a practice at the publicly funded Bar

Internship Scholarships

  • For Members applying for pupillage
  • Supports work experience, internships, placements, conferences, competitions, research opportunities, and further study

Hebe Plunkett Scholarships

  • Supports Members who incur additional expenditure due to disability or chronic health condition during law conversion, Bar course, or pupillage

Essay Prizes

  • First prize: Up to £1,500
  • Second prize: Up to £500
  • For essays on Common or Statute Law of England and Wales
  • Previous winners ineligible; applicants must not have received pupillage offer by deadline

Gide French-English Law Essay Prize

  • Winner: £1,500 plus two-week paid internship with Gide's London office
  • Runner-up: £1,000

Priority Areas

The Trust exclusively funds legal education and training for individuals intending to practice at the Bar of England and Wales. Priority is given to:

  • Candidates demonstrating academic excellence and strong foundation for success as a barrister
  • Individuals showing resilience, work ethic, and ability to overcome adversity
  • Applicants with clear commitment to and understanding of the Bar profession
  • Those with strong analytical and communication skills
  • Candidates requiring financial support to access the profession

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals not intending to practice at the Bar of England and Wales
  • Non-legal education or training
  • Previous winners of essay prizes (for essay competition re-applications)
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Governance and Leadership

David Forsdick QC - Chair of the Gray's Inn Scholarships Committee

Tony Charles - Director of Education at Gray's Inn

The Trust operates with 3 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The charity has no trading subsidiaries and functions in close integration with Gray's Inn itself, with the Trust serving the educational mission by providing scholarship funding.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through Gray's Inn's online application portal. All applicants must intend to practice at the Bar of England and Wales to be eligible for any scholarship.

Bar Course Scholarships: Application deadline is 23:59 (GMT) on 31st October annually for scholarships supporting studies beginning the following year.

Assessment Process: Applications are assessed against three equally weighted criteria through both written and oral evaluation:

  1. Academic ability and analytical skills
  2. Drive, determination, and resilience
  3. Advocacy skills and motivation to succeed

After an initial paper sift, shortlisted candidates are invited to interview.

Interview Process

Format: Panel of three barristers

Preparation: Candidates receive two topical questions 15 minutes before the interview and must deliver a 3-minute presentation to the panel

Timing: Interviews typically conducted in March

What to Expect:

  • Questions based on written application
  • Topical legal news questions
  • Discussion of non-legal extra-curricular activities
  • Questions about achievements outside academia and law
  • Assessment of communication skills and composure under pressure

Gray's Inn strongly recommends reviewing their official guide to application assessment and scoring, and attending the Scholarship Q&A sessions held each October.

Decision Timeline

  • Application deadline: 31st October
  • Paper sift: January-February
  • Interviews: March
  • Initial results: Approximately 1-2 weeks after interview (whether scholarship awarded)
  • Full award details: 3-4 weeks after initial notification (scholarship name and amount if above £5,000)
  • Total timeline: 5-6 weeks from interview to complete information

Residential Scholarship interviews are held separately in early April, with invitations only extended to those who have already received a Bar Course scholarship.

Success Rates

Gray's Inn awarded 91 Bar Course Scholarships in both 2024 and 2023. The Inn offers up to 95 Bar Course scholarships annually. Exact application numbers and success rates are not publicly disclosed, though the scholarships are competitive. In 2022, 120 scholarships were granted across all programs, with 17 Residential Scholars.

Notably, approximately 50% of practicing barristers did not secure Bar Course scholarships, demonstrating that unsuccessful applicants can still succeed at the Bar.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply in subsequent years. There are no restrictions on reapplication, and it is not uncommon for candidates unsuccessful in one year to secure scholarships the following year with strengthened applications. Applicants are advised to use the time between applications to improve their CV through mini-pupillages, mooting, debating, and other relevant experiences.

For essay prizes specifically, previous winners are ineligible to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Assessment Criteria (from Gray's Inn)

Gray's Inn evaluates candidates against five specific criteria:

  1. Academic Excellence: “Demonstrates the strong academic foundation necessary to succeed as a barrister”
  1. Resilience and Work Ethic: “Possesses drive, determination and a strong work ethic to overcome adversity or achieve goals, whilst remaining calm when under pressure”
  1. Analytical Skills: “The ability to apply lateral and original thinking to solve problems and work with complex information to extract key information and facts to develop an argument”
  1. Commitment to the Bar: “Demonstrates a clear interest in the Bar and has got the conviction and ambition to become a barrister. Has taken well considered steps to gain an understanding of the profession”
  1. Communication Skills: “Can develop well structured, succinct, grammatically correct, and persuasively written argument. As an oral advocate, can communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively”

Interview Preparation Tips (from Gray's Inn resources)

Know Your Application: Panel members frequently ask questions based on written submissions. Inability to recall your own statements creates a poor impression.

Stay Current: Gray's Inn definitely asks questions on topical legal news. Candidates should maintain awareness of current legal developments.

Communication Under Pressure: “As an aspiring barrister, the panel will likely be taking note of how you are replying to their questions. Try your best to stay calm and speak at a slow pace if you can.” Many candidates speak faster when nervous, which can undermine their presentation.

Broader Achievements: Be prepared to discuss “non-legal extra-curricular activities” and answer questions like “What achievement outside academia and the law are you most proud of?”

Post-Interview Action: Write down interview questions immediately after your interview - these are “really helpful in any future preparation” if you need to reapply.

Strengthening Applications

Gray's Inn hosts Q&A sessions each October where “previous scholars and interviewers share insights about expectations and preparation.” These events allow scholarship applicants to “hear from interview panel members about what makes a successful scholarship application and from recent scholars about their experience of the process.”

Applicants are encouraged to gain relevant experience through mini-pupillages, mooting competitions, debating activities, and other opportunities that demonstrate commitment to the profession and develop advocacy skills.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Merit-Based with Means-Testing: All scholarships awarded on merit first, with financial award values then adjusted based on individual circumstances - demonstrate both excellence and genuine financial need
  • Comprehensive Preparation Essential: With 15 minutes to prepare a 3-minute presentation on topical questions, practice concise, structured legal argumentation under time pressure
  • Five Clear Criteria: Focus application and interview preparation on demonstrating academic excellence, resilience, analytical thinking, commitment to the Bar, and communication skills
  • Current Legal Knowledge Critical: Gray's Inn explicitly asks topical legal questions - staying informed about current legal developments is non-negotiable
  • Reapplication is Normal: Unsuccessful applicants frequently succeed in subsequent years with strengthened applications - rejection is not the end of the road
  • Beyond Legal Credentials: Panel assesses broader achievements and well-rounded candidates - prepare to discuss non-legal activities and personal accomplishments
  • Early Engagement Benefits: Attend October Q&A sessions to gain insider insights from panel members and recent scholars before preparing your application
  • Total Annual Funding Matters: With £1.5+ million distributed and 95 Bar Course scholarships available, this represents one of the most significant scholarship opportunities for aspiring barristers

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