Graham Rushton Award

The Graham Rushton Award for Blind and Partially Sighted Law Students

Graham Rushton was a blind lawyer who left a considerable sum of money to RNIB as a legacy to be spent on assisting blind and partially sighted law students studying English Law in the United Kingdom.

RNIB and the Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers have worked in partnership to establish an annual grant award from the legacy.

The Graham Rushton Award is a grant of around £7,000 for which blind and partially sighted people can apply.

Who can apply?

Anyone who is studying English law in the United Kingdom, whether for a degree, a post-degree conversion qualification or a post-degree training course and who will be doing so in the next academic year. Priority will, however be given to applicants who have reached a stage in their studies where local authority grants and other funding sources are not available, such as a Legal Practice Course (LCP) or Bar Vocational Course (BVC). And to those who have not previously benefited from a Graham Rushton Award.

Before being awarded any money applicants must:

  • have a confirmed place on a cours
  • be studying English Law within the United Kingdom
  • be able to provide proof of sight loss.

How do you apply?

Contact Caroline Huntley at RNIB on 020 7391 2256 or e-mail Caroline.huntley@rnib.org.uk to request a Graham Rushton Grant application pack in your preferred format.

The application form will ask for personal details about yourself, and your previous, current and future studies.

You will also be asked to provide the following information:

  • registration/ medical certificates of sight loss
  • a full transcript of academic grades to date and/ or a copy of your degree certificate.

You will also be asked to complete a personal statement that includes the following:

  • financial reasons for requesting the grant
  • the legal area within which you plan to work and why
  • whether you have a contract of employment following the completion of your course and if so, who with
  • whether you already have, or are currently seeking, any other additional funding
  • your long term legal career plans
  • names and contact details of two referees.

How is the grant recipient decided?

All applications will be judged by a panel made up of blind and partially sighted lawyers and RNIB professionals.

Short listed applicants will be invited to attend a formal interview with the panel.

Please note: If the panel decide that more than one applicant meets the criteria, the grant may be split between a number of people.

Deadline for completed applications is 31st  March 2011. The grant will be allocated by 30th June 2011

If you need further information or require this information in large print, Braille or electronic format please call 020 7 391 2256 or email   Caroline.huntley@rnib.org.uk

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