The Graham Rushton Award for Blind and Partially Sighted Law Students

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Scholarship value

The Graham Rushton Award is an annual grant. The amount for this round of applications is around £10,000.

The award can be used towards exam fees, books, equipment or other study-related costs. If an applicant has been short-listed, they will have a remote interview with the Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers (SOVIL) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) staff in July 2026.

In cases where more than one applicant is approved by the scholarship panel, the grant may be divided between several awardees.

The grant will be allocated by 31 August 2026.

Deadline

Completed applications must be received by 31 March 2026.

Applicants will then be contacted to confirm receipt of their application.

You should expect to hear from RNIB and the Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers (SOVIL) in May 2026 to find out whether the application has been shortlisted.

Criteria

To be eligible, applicants may be required to demonstrate that one or more of the following apply:

  • Have a confirmed place on a course
  • Be studying English Law within the United Kingdom
  • Be able to provide proof of registration of sight loss
  • Have proof of a current or offered training contract or other legal position

Further details

Graham Rushton was a blind lawyer who left a considerable sum of money to RNIB as a legacy, which is to be spent on assisting blind and partially sighted law students studying English Law in the United Kingdom.

RNIB and SOVIL work in partnership to deliver this award.

If you need further information or require this information in large print, Braille or electronic format, please email: fran.trought@rnib.org.uk

How to apply

To apply, please contact Fran Trought, Employment Advisor (Further and Higher Education Pathways) at RNIB at fran.trought@rnib.org.uk.

The application form will ask for personal details, your previous, current, and future studies.

You will also be asked to provide the following information:

  • Proof of registration of sight loss
  • A full transcript of academic grades to date and/or a copy of your degree certificate

You will also be asked to complete a personal statement that includes the following:

  • Financial reasons for requesting the grant
  • The legal area within which you plan to work, and why
  • Whether you have a contract of employment following the completion of your course, and if so, with whom
  • Whether you already have, or are currently seeking, any other additional funding
  • Your long-term legal career plans
  • The names and contact details of two referees