Pupils and barristers from Black/Caribbean/African/Black British ethnic groups are particularly underrepresented across the Bar. Black underrepresentation is particularly acute at the civil Bar and, within that, at the commercial Bar.
11KBW is committed to taking real action to address this. We are starting at the beginning. The costs of initial qualification and the existing underrepresentation are barriers to entry to our profession. We recognise the need for financial and other assistance, dedicated to supporting black students on the Bar Course, to encourage bright and ambitious black candidates to apply to the Bar and to consider it as a profession where they are welcome and can develop their potential.
11KBW therefore awards an annual scholarship of £30,000 for a black student on the Bar Course.
We are delighted to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2026 11KBW Scholarship. The closing date for applications is Friday 5 March 2026.
The 11KBW Scholarship will provide the successful student with:
- a scholarship award of £30,000 towards tuition fees and maintenance;
- mentoring from members of 11KBW during the BPC and pupillage years;
- a guaranteed assessed mini-pupillage at 11KBW; and
- if the student’s score on the assessed mini-pupillage is within a particular range, relative to other applicants, the offer of a guaranteed interview for pupillage at 11KBW (if the candidate has chosen to apply to 11KBW for pupillage).
Full details of how to apply are at the 11KBW Scholarship website.
The 2024 scholarship was awarded to Jaizzail Ofori, as reported on Legal Cheek.
The 2025 scholarship was awarded to Omonefe Orogun. Omonefe received a first class law degree from the University of Exeter, ranking second in his year. He has volunteered at the North Kensington Law Centre and through Advocate, completed an internship with JUSTICE, and worked as a trade union representative for the Cleaners and Allied Independent Workers Union. He recently completed a Bachelor of Civil Law postgraduate degree at Oxford and is now studying on the Bar Course.
