The Eldon Law Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to students from the University of Oxford who wish to study for the English Bar. Applicants must either have obtained a first class honours degree in the Final Honours School, or obtained a distinction on the BCL or MJur.[1] It is a two-year scholarship presently funded at £9,000 a year.[2]
The scholarship dates from 12 May 1830, and was funded in response to an application from subscribers.[3][4] Although the scholarship is named after Lord Eldon LC, it is not funded from his will – Lord Eldon did not in fact die until eight years after the scholarship was founded.[4] The first trustees included the Duke of Richmond, Earl of Mansfield, Earl of Romney and Lord Arden.[3]
Until 1963 it was a requirement that an applicant be a member of the Church of England. In 1963 that was downgraded to a preference, and in 1983 the requirement was dropped entirely.[3]
Past winners include:[5]