Anthony Walker bursary scheme

About the Foundation

The Anthony Walker Foundation was established in 2006 after the racially motivated murder of Anthony Walker in Huyton, Liverpool. Anthony’s family and friends wanted his name to live on with a positive, lasting legacy. The Foundation works to tackle racism, hate crime and discrimination by providing educational opportunities, victim support services and promoting equity and inclusion for all.

What is the bursary?

The Anthony Walker bursary is a collaboration between the Anthony Walker Foundation, National Black Crown Prosecution Association and Crown Prosecution Service. It aims to continue to increase diversity within the Crown Prosecution Service by inspiring and supporting students of minority backgrounds into a rewarding career as a prosecutor.

We are offering ten postgraduate bursaries for law students from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background studying at a university in the North West or Merseyside region. As a bursary recipient, you are awarded £5,000 towards the cost of your Bar Practice Course, Legal Practice Course or Solicitors Qualifying Examination.

As well as financial support, you will receive mentorship from local area prosecutors and the National Black Crown Prosecution Association. They will also arrange for you to shadow lawyers at court and attend Crown Prosecution Service related events. As part of your support package, you're guided on routes into the Crown Prosecution Service such as our legal trainee scheme. And you have the opportunity to have personal development sessions as part of our learning and development offer.

This year, for the first time, we are offering our bursary students a fixed term appointment as a Paralegal Officer upon successful completion of the bursary scheme and their postgraduate courses.

What is the offer?

On successful completion of your year on the bursary scheme, in 2028 you are offered a 12 month fixed term appointment as a Paralegal Officer within CPS North West or Mersey Cheshire region.

The role provides an opportunity for you to gain practical experience in the Crown Prosecution Service and further develop your career within the criminal justice system.

Benefits include:

£30,700 per year salary
25 days' leave, plus extra privilege day for King's birthday
flexible working including flexitime, and a family friendly approach to work
Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%
dedicated training through a paralegal induction programme.

Are you eligible?

You must be:

of Black, Asian or minority ethnic background
beginning your Bar Practice Course, Legal Practice Course or Solicitors Qualifying Examination qualification from September 2027 with a provider in the North West or Merseyside region
on course to achieve or have achieved a 2:2 minimum in your undergraduate law degree.

To enable us to carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service check, you must satisfy the necessary eligibility criteria, including having the right to work and access to public funds in the UK. This means international students aren't eligible to apply for this scheme.

'The Anthony Walker bursary provides the perfect platform for an aspiring lawyer to access the legal profession. It's extremely important that the Crown Prosecution Service is representative of the diverse communities we serve. As well as mentoring, the bursary offers talented men and women from a black and minority ethnic background the opportunity for financial support and invaluable work experience to develop their practical skills and experience.'

Nathan Miebai, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor and former Anthony Walker scheme recipient

'The Anthony Walker bursary scheme has provided so many opportunities – from mock trials and personal development sessions, to a call with the Director of Public Prosecutions and events with the Anthony Walker Foundation.

'The funding I received meant that I could focus my energy into achieving the highest grade, without worrying about a large financial commitment. Everyone involved in the scheme has been keen to help me on my journey and eager to see me succeed. I leave with more knowledge, skills, connections and most importantly an improved confidence in my own ability. I will forever be indebted to the scheme for the role it played in my legal journey. '

Niamh, former Anthony Walker scholar

‘The Anthony Walker scholarship has offered me relevant legal work experience which has strengthened my applications and helped me to become more familiar with the inner workings of the criminal justice system. It has been a beneficial, refreshing and rewarding experience alongside my law studies. I have looked forward to participating in every experience and getting to learn more about the Crown Prosecution Service. I’m proud to say that I was awarded an Anthony Walker scholarship and to share my experiences - this is the great legacy of Anthony Walker.’

Massuma, former Anthony Walker scholar

Find out more

You can read more from previous recipients of the Anthony Walker bursary scheme here.

You can also email your questions to [email protected]

How do I apply?

Please email your CV and statement of suitability. Your CV must include your up to date personal details, qualifications and work experience.

You need to complete all statement of suitability questions. If you do not answer all these questions in your statement your application will not be considered:

do you meet the eligibility criteria?
do you have the right to access public funds in the UK?*
do you reside in the North West or Mersey Cheshire region, or will you at the time of your studies?
after completing your qualification, are you planning to remain in the North West or Mersey Cheshire region?
are you on track to, or have you, achieved a 2:2 or above in your undergraduate degree?
what course will you be applying for to start in September 2027, and who is the course provider?

*A person with a right to access public funds in the UK can legally claim mainstream welfare benefits and local authority housing assistance. You have the right to access public funds if you hold immigration statuses for: indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILR), refugee status or humanitarian protection, right to abode or exemption from immigration control (such as Irish citizens), settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (subject to passing the right-to-reside test), specific visas such as Ukraine Scheme leave, Hong Kong BN(O) visa, or family/private life rules where destitution is accepted by the Home Office.

And your personal statement (of 500 words) needs to cover:

why you're making an application
how this helps your career development in criminal law
how you feel your values align with those of the Anthony Walker Foundation and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Email your CV and statement of suitability to [email protected] - you can also contact them for information about the Paralegal Officer role and to request a job information pack.

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