Emilia Gordon

19-year-old Emilia Gordon will receive financial support, professional mentoring, and a place on Pinsent Masons’ summer vacation programme, as well as the opportunity to train with the firm following her graduation.

The scholarship was launched in 2018 in memory of Kirk Murdoch, one of Scotland’s most respected lawyers and at the time of his death the chairman for Scotland and Northern Ireland at Pinsent Masons.

Miss Gordon, from Aberdeenshire, is one of a number of students supported by The Lawscot Foundation, a charity established by the Law Society of Scotland to help talented students from less advantaged backgrounds access a career in law.

The youngest of seven siblings, she said being awarded the scholarship would make a significant contribution to fulfilling her ambition of qualifying as a lawyer.

She said: “This will have a huge impact, not just financially, but in securing a work placement which is extremely competitive and hard to come by. It is an amazing opportunity to work with one of the country’s largest legal firms and I am determined to live up to Kirk Murdoch’s legacy.”

Katharine Hardie, chair for Scotland and Northern Ireland at Pinsent Masons, said: “Throughout his career Kirk championed many young lawyers in reaching their potential. His view was that hard work and determination will help you to succeed, but he also recognised that it was incumbent on those of us who had ‘made it’ in our chosen profession to help those starting their careers.

“Today’s graduates are tomorrow’s lawyers and law firm leaders. Legal firms should do all that they can to ensure that emerging talent and those now entering the profession are not disproportionally affected in the aftermath of COVID-19. Our support of the Kirk Murdoch Scholarship is just one way that we continue to support young lawyers in Scotland and it is a fitting tribute to a man who was a mentor to many.”

Demi Scorfield, the inaugural scholarship recipient and a law student at the University of Edinburgh, has just completed her first summer work placement with Pinsent Masons which was arranged virtually due to COVID-19.

Miss Scorfield said: “My first year on the Kirk Murdoch Scholarship has been invaluable. I have had the opportunity to complete trainee-like tasks, learn more about the different departments within the firm, develop my commercial awareness, and had the privilege of attending many workshops and social events hosted by the firm on Microsoft Teams.

“I am very thankful that the summer placement went ahead despite the pandemic, and I look forward to next year’s summer placement with Pinsent Masons.”