The Hon. Sir Peter Bristow Scholarship

The Hon. Sir Peter Bristow Scholarship was instituted in 1978 to help barristers "to study the workings of the institutions of the European Communities in the places where they are established and in particular the workings of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg".

Candidates must intend to practise at the Bar and must have a good working knowledge of at least one European language (including French). The interview will be conducted partly in French. There is no requirement for applicants to be a member of the Middle Temple.

The period of the scholarship will include the following elements:

• a) Joining the pupils, "stagiaires", or "trainees" of the winter stage of the European Communities (September 2011); this consists of an intensive course of lectures given by members of the various departments of the European Commission to bring pupils up to date with recent developments in the EU; followed by five months as a pupil of a member of the Legal Service of the European Commission in Brussels; and
  
• b) Some time in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, in the chambers of the British Advocate General (Eleanor Sharpston QC, a Bencher of this Inn) to see cases presented and to assist with legal research (it is suggested that a three to four month period is appropriate).

A total of approximately 9 months will be spent in Brussels and Luxembourg. The period of the scholarship has been accepted by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) as the second six months of the qualifying pupillage period for the Bar of England and Wales, if the applicant is a pupil; the onus to liaise with the BSB on this is on the scholar.

The scholarship is worth £9,000, payable in two instalments. At the conclusion of the scholarship, a report to the Inn of the time spent in Brussels and Luxembourg should be submitted to the Deputy Under Treasurer (Education).

The Application Form can be downloaded or obtained in hard-copy from the Treasury Office, where it must be returned completed and signed in hard copy, together with a supporting academic reference. Please note that all candidates are interviewed and a section of that interview will be conducted in French.

Applications need to be lodged by 15 March 2011; the interviews will be held in late March or April 2011 (date to be confirmed).