MTYBA’s Rule of Law Essay Competition 2023
Building upon our commitment to examining and promoting the rule of law, Middle Temple Young Barristers’ Association launched the ‘Rule of Law Essay Competition’ in 2023 after the success of previous years.
A prize of £500 will be awarded to a member for the winning essay. This year’s question is:
“The cab rank rule promotes access to justice and promotes the rule of law. It is disappointing that some lawyers apparently wish to remove these rights from people of whom they disapprove.”
In reference to the ‘Declaration of Conscience’ signed by the group ‘Lawyers are Responsible’, discuss.
All entries must be submitted with a cover sheet. Please see the rules and guidance for more details.
The deadline for submissions is 23.00pm on 24 September 2023. Late entries will not be accepted.
2021 Winner Mass Ndow-Njie, The President's dilemma: To keep a promise or to keep an oath?
MTYBA Pre-Pupil Hardship Grants
The deadline for applications has passed (Friday 22 May 2020). In March 2020, immediately after realising the impact that Coronavirus (Covid-19) would have on the Junior Bar, MTYBA set up a Hardship Fund. Some of the funds were repurposed from other areas. MTYBA invited applications from eligible members, which were reviewed by an independent panel. The panel also determined the appropriate level of award to grant to each successful applicant, out of the pre-approved budget.
The MTYBA Committee and the panel would have loved to have been able to help everyone, but there were several applications and the funds were quite limited. Details of the process are described in this article. MTYBA awarded a total of 13 grants (from 34 eligible applications), and each grant amount ranged from £250 to £505. Awards were granted to five tenants and to eight members who have yet to arrange pupillage, with Call dates ranging from 2015 to 2019.
MTYBA reminds those who have arranged pupillage or are currently pupils to apply for the Pupillage Hardship Fund Awards, provided by the Education Department of Middle Temple. Those members who have held a brief are eligible for the Barristers’ Benevolent Association (BBA) fund.
In normal times, MTYBA offers two awards schemes to members each year:
The Intern Award and the Practice Development Grant
Further details of each scheme can be found by clicking the links below. Both award schemes have historically been offered in the spring each year, when details of how to apply will appear on the website, mailing list and social media. MTYBA is unable to offer these grants in 2020, in part because the funds were repurposed for the Hardship Grants described above.
The Intern Award is usually open to MTYBA's pre-pupil members and is designed to provide funding for those who are undertaking or due to undertake an internship abroad. MTYBA usually offers three awards per year each worth £1000.
The Practice Development Grant is usually open to MTYBA members who are junior tenants and are seeking a grant to assist funding an opportunity to develop their practice. MTYBA usually offers two awards per year each worth £500.