CILEX Foundation commits £123K in scholarships and bursaries

The CILEX Foundation awarded £123,000 in scholarships and bursaries this year, enrolling nine scholarship winners onto the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) and providing 30 existing students with financial support to continue their studies.

Anieka Ali, one of this year’s scholarship winners

Seven students were awarded scholarships worth up to £13,200 each as part of the CILEX Foundation’s scholarship programme, targeted at those under-represented in the legal profession and/or from a socially disadvantaged background. The scholarships cover the training costs of becoming a fully qualified CILEX Lawyer.

Two additional students received ‘Launchpad to Law’ scholarship awards, joining the Millicent Grant Career Enhancing Programme, which funds the first year of study for those with minimal or no legal experience, as well as providing career and personal development support.

Eligible groups for the scholarship programme include young carers, former refugees with a right to remain in the UK, those with a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010 (such as Black, Asian and other ethnic minority students), previous recipients of free school meals or a history of being in care.

The seven students awarded full scholarships in 2025 were:

• Anieka Ali
• Holly Bonney
• Farah Jade Fensome
• Shonni Gibson
• Anna Lebedynska
• Victoria Patel
• Sandrine Uwase 

Anna Lebedynska was a prosecutor in Ukraine before the war brought her to the UK. She found work as a paralegal and is now a legal adviser.

Anna Lebedynska was a prosecutor in Ukraine and is now studying the CPQ

“My parents made great sacrifices to support me through law school in Ukraine, but my legal career was cut short by the war,” she said. “The CILEX scholarship allows me to continue to progress in a career that I am passionate about, studying while working full-time to support myself and my son.

“It has given me the opportunity to qualify in the UK and sends an important message to the Ukrainian community here – even after experiencing displacement, with resilience and support, it is possible to rebuild and continue to pursue your professional dreams.”

Anieka Ali works in a risk and compliance role and is a carer to two of her children who have health conditions.

“For over a decade, I was a full-time carer, and had to put my career on hold. Study and work experience felt out of reach and the traditional route to a legal career was not going to be possible for me,” she said.

“I studied for a law degree with the Open University and after graduation looked at options for remote working and study, eventually securing a job as a risk and compliance officer at a humanitarian aid charity. The CILEX scholarship gives me the opportunity to continue in my role while studying to become a fully qualified CILEX Lawyer, progressing my career whilst building further legal expertise to help my charity deliver on its humanitarian goals.”

Speaking on behalf of the CILEX Foundation board of trustees, Chair Ian Hunt reiterated CILEX’s commitment to improving social mobility and diversity within the legal profession. “We want to ensure dedicated individuals like Anna, Anieka and our other scholarship and bursary winners can succeed in the sector and progress their careers, regardless of their personal circumstances,” he said.

“CILEX has a long history of opening up legal careers to those traditionally underrepresented in the legal progression and we are proud that the Foundation is able to further remove barriers for promising future legal professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Since the launch of its new scholarship programme in 2021, the Foundation has supported over 80 students with their studies, awarding over £400,000.