Law student at LSBU wins double scholarship from the Honourable Society of Inner Temple
Sarah Whale has been awarded the Exhibition Award and the Duke of Edinburgh Award towards her Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)Law student Sarah Whale has been awarded two scholarships from the Honourable Society of Inner Temple; the Exhibition award of £19,500 and the Duke of Edinburgh Award of £175.
Having applied by letter, Sarah was offered an interview, which involved a number of practical exercises, including analysing an unreported case. Of the 500 candidates that took part, the Inner Temple chose Sarah as worthy of their investment.
For Sarah, winning the awards means she can take her Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), which costs £19,000, without having to worry about getting into debt. The scholarship will also help her application for pupillage, the final, vocational stage of training for those wishing to become practising barristers, as the Inner Temple holds much esteem in the world of Law, giving Sarah a good recommendation for the future.
Sarah credits multiple lecturers for granting her the opportunities to develop and grow as a student: “Paul Wynell-Sutherland gave me confidence in presenting a legal argument and thinking on my feet. Tracey Aquino always let me take the floor in Street Law and also wrote references for my scholarship. Louise Andronicou has always chosen me to speak publicly at events LSBU hold for Access Students and has always included me in any training days they hold.”
Sarah started her journey with LSBU as a mature student at 28. A single mother of two small children, she was planning to become a nurse, having been told by a careers adviser that she wouldn't be “smart enough to do a law degree”.
“I found myself at the LSBU Extended Project workshops as an Access to Health and Human Sciences student. Louise came to give a talk - she told us about a partnership that would allow students to receive conditional offers to certain courses.
“I had a realisation that maybe I can do Law after all. I applied and received an unconditional offer for LLB Law, which I took up without hesitation. In my first year, I became Deputy Street Law Co-Ordinator and entered the Internal Mooting Competition. In my second year, I became Head of Street Law and won the Internal Mooting Competition. In my final year, I became the Deputy Mooting Co-Ordinator and became involved in external competitions representing the University.
“Whilst it’s easy to say that it was all my own hard work and determination, I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for the Access Recruitment programme run by Louise Andronicou. LSBU provided the tools and I used them to better myself.”
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