A third year University of Salford Law student with four children has been awarded a prestigious scholarship to help her reach her ambition to become a Barrister.
Mature student Kirsty Mayle, from Hyde, is one of just a handful of students nationwide who have been awarded a Lord Denning Scholarship, worth £15,500. The award will pay for her to undertake a Bar Professional Training Course. She had to go through a rigorous selection process, involving a lengthy application form and an interview in front of a panel of four Lincoln’s Inn members.
Previous Salford graduates Adam Gould and Shabab Riviz also gained the same scholarship, which is awarded to student who demonstrate outstanding potential to contribute to the Bar.
The award is the latest in a run of success for the Law department at Salford, which achieved a 100% satisfaction mark in the latest National Student survey for its Law Combined course, the highest in the country, and 98% for Law, fifth in the country. Applications to study Law at Salford have gone up by 110% in two years.
Head of Law at the University of Salford, Dr Shane Sullivan congratulated Kirsty. He said: “This is a fine achievement for Kirsty, she should be proud of her achievement, this is a very tough scholarship to get. I’m sure she will go on to great success in her career.
“It continues the success of Law at Salford, which along with our tremendous NSS results indicates the level of care and development we invest in our students. The whole department deserves great credit for our successes.”
Kirsty, who decided to go back to University while she was at home looking after her fourth child, said: “I’m on cloud nine at the moment. Practising Law is all I’ve ever wanted to do and this is such a great boost. I was so nervous during the interview but it went really. I have a mortgage and bills to pay and food for four children, so this will just make things that bit easier.
“It is hard work being a mum and studying at the same time, but it is so rewarding.”
As well as her success with the Lord Denning Scholarship, Kirsty has also claimed one of the ten places on the Jeremy McMullen Access to the Bar Awards, which involves two weeks paid work experience in London, one week mini pupillage and one week court marshalling.
She added: “The support of the staff at Salford has been amazing they have really helped boost my confidence and put me on the right track to what will hopefully be a successful career. I would just say to anyone who has the desire to become a solicitor or barrister to go for it.”
