Two Salford Business School Law students have received the Anthony Walker bursary. The bursary is a collaboration between the Anthony Walker Foundation, National Black Crown Prosecution Association (NBCPA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Final year Law with Criminology student, Jemma Priestly, and second-year LLB Law student, Halimah Natha, have both been awarded the bursary.
Halimah will receive £5,000 to support her through the remainder of her second year, while Jemma will be sponsored through the first year of her Bar Practice Course, as she continues progressing towards her goal of becoming a Barrister. In addition, both will be assigned a personal mentor, who will guide them on the journey to their professional careers.
The Anthony Walker Bursary is a prestigious scholarship that supports students of Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds through their educational journey at university. Established in 2006, the Anthony Walker Foundation was created in memory of Anthony Walker, a young man who was tragically murdered in a racially motivated attack. His family wanted his memory to live on with a positive legacy and so built the foundation to promote equity and inclusion by widening access to educational opportunities. They also work to tackle racism, hate and discrimination, and provide support for those who may be impacted.
Jemma, a single mum of four children, shares what the bursary means to her: “It means so much to me as it will enable me to fund my Barrister training course. Without this, it would be the end of the road for me in terms of becoming a Barrister.
“During my time at Salford, I’ve had some amazing lectures which have captivated and engaged me in incredible ways. I am truly in awe of some of my Lecturers, who have only helped further my motivation to continue pursuing a career in the legal sector. Also, working in the law clinic has been inspiring, while my academic mentor, Sam, has provided me with great encouragement which has helped me to achieve so much.”
Jemma has also been inspired by many of the female leaders featured at the annual Women in Law conference that she has attended each year since commencing her course here at Salford. Jemma firmly believes that her success is due to the strong network she has built during her time at Salford Business School and eventually hopes to be a Crown Prosecutor, as well as a mentor to other women.
Halimah Natha, who has also been inspired by the Women in Law conferences, added: “This bursary is life changing. Having a mentor to guide me both personally and professionally, attending incredible events, and gaining first-hand experience by shadowing Judges and Lawyers will give me invaluable insight into the legal profession. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow and be part of meaningful change.”
As the first member of her family to pursue a career in the legal sector, Halimah is entering a field that was initially very unfamiliar to her. However, throughout her time at Salford Business School, she has connected with many legal experts who have helped to broaden her understanding of the profession, grow her network and boost her confidence as she progresses towards her graduate career.
Louise Hall, Senior Law Lecturer here at Salford Business School, concluded: “To create a just legal system, it is vital that we encourage as many people as possible, from diverse and minority backgrounds to enter the field.
“Bursaries like this can be life changing and provide our students with the opportunity to achieve goals that otherwise may not have been possible for them.”