LLB Law student, Reece Hendricks, has secured one of the prestigious Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarships awarded annually to a select number of black male law students in the first year of their degree.
The scholarships were created in memory of Stephen Lawrence who was an ambitious and focussed 18-year-old who dreamed of using his academic and creative skills to become an architect. His dream and contribution to society was brought to an abrupt end in 1993 when he was murdered in a racist attack in South London.
The scheme was set up by the global law firm to inspire and coach ambitious black male law students in the UK alongside their academic studies.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer, one of the Magic Circle law firms, and Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, Stephen Lawrence’s mother, established the scholarships in 2013 to help address the under-representation of black men from less socially mobile backgrounds in large commercial law firms and City institutions.
Every year, awardees receive a range of benefits including a 15-month development and mentoring programme, with activities developed and led by Freshfields lawyers with support from other City institutions.
Reece Hendricks, now in the second year of his LLB, first heard about the scholarships in 2019 shortly after starting his course, “I was initially approached by my legal skills lecturer, who thought I’d be a fitting candidate for the scheme.”
On securing a place on the scholarship, Reece, who is passionate about the law, added: “I feel honoured and extremely humbled to be awarded the scholarship. To be part of the process and being in contact with such talented and driven black males was an experience not to be forgotten. I am grateful for the University and Freshfields for seeing something in me and wanting to invest in the foundation of my future.”
Further details about the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship scheme and careers at Freshfields are available on the Freshfields website.