Law students to receive support from GILA

Monday 23 August 2010

The Guernsey International Legal Association (GILA), in association with the GTA University Centre, is to offer a bursary for a student taking up a place on the Graduate Diploma in Law, due to begin next month.

The two-year part-time programme, run by the GTA University Centre in conjunction with Bournemouth University, will cover eight units in total and will focus on the foundations of legal knowledge, including: the Law of Trusts, Criminal Law and the Law of the European Union.

The bursary will be awarded to one student who shows particular promise and will be for a total of £2,000.

‘This is a very generous gesture on the part of GILA and we are honoured that they should associate themselves with this initiative in this way,’ said Professor Richard Conder, chief executive of the GTA University Centre.

‘Any student enrolled on the Graduate Diploma in Law programme is eligible to apply for the bursary and we, in partnership with GILA, will make the award on the basis of academic potential and financial need,’ he said.

All students on the course will also be invited to join GILA, as student members, giving them the chance to interact with the 200 existing members.

Student members of GILA will also have access to the Association’s speaker lectures and seminars which, in the past, have featured internationally recognised figures such as Cherie Booth QC.

Emma Roberts, President of GILA, is pleased to be involved with the Law Diploma in this way.

‘As an organisation of legal professionals it is important that we support the provision of legal education, and we are pleased that this can now be offered in Guernsey. This course will undoubtedly enable individuals who have not been able to study off-island the opportunity to work towards a recognised legal qualification. We hope to welcome all students on the course as student members of GILA’, she said.

In addition to the support received from the GTA University Centre, students will also be offered a GILA mentor, in an attempt to bridge the gap between being a law student and integrating into Guernsey’s legal community. Students will also have the opportunity to meet qualified lawyers at the regular GILA socials.

To be considered for the bursary, applicants must first enrol on the course. For more information and to sign-up for the diploma, contact Jemma Chesman on 721555 or at jemma.chesman@gta.gg.