The A&O Shearman Access to Justice Scholarship, funded by the A&O Shearman Foundation through the Belfast Grants program, supports postgraduate students completing a masters degree in access to justice and empowers them to develop legal and advocacy skills.

Since 2015, 23 students, including 13 mature students, have helped deliver over £1 million in legal advice and 10,000 pro bono hours to more than 300 clients who face social or financial barriers. At the same time, students develop expertise, understanding and transferable skills for their future career path. They also gain real-world experience by providing critical legal advice and representation in areas such as employment, social security, and family law, under expert supervision at Ulster University’s Law Clinic.

Naomi Buchanan, executive director, advanced delivery legal at A&O Shearman said: “Through our partnership with Ulster University we are helping talented students from a range of backgrounds deepen their knowledge, understanding, and legal skills. They, in turn, are making a real difference in people’s lives and providing support to those who need it most.

“Increasing access to justice and removing barriers to education are central to our social impact work, helping to shape a more inclusive society. We recognise the importance of training graduate law students in social justice, as this drives positive social change and creates a more inclusive talent pipeline for the legal profession in Northern Ireland.

“We look forward to seeing future students progress their legal careers through this course as we continue to provide two of these valuable scholarships every academic year.”

Dr Esther McGuinness, head of the School of Law and director of the Ulster University Law Clinic, commented on the transformative effect of the partnership on both students and the wider community.

She said: “A&O Shearman’s generous support has been instrumental in transforming student futures while driving meaningful change in the legal landscape of Northern Ireland. The Law Clinic is a cornerstone of socially responsive legal education, empowering students to assist those most in need and contributing to sector-defining work.

“The Clinic’s strategic influence continues to grow, for example through initiatives like our Prison Outreach Programme, where scholars engage directly with prisoners themselves as well as partner organisations across the island of Ireland such as the Turnaround Project, NIACRO, Extern, the Prison Reform Trust, and Community NI. This work strengthens access to justice and the crucial role of legal education in community reform. Simply put, these scholarships don’t just fund education – they fund justice.”

The impact of the scholarship is evident from former postgraduate students. Samantha Russell was an A&O Shearman access to justice scholar and explains how the support helped advance her career. She is now a conciliation officer with the Labour Relations Agency, helping to resolve workplace disputes.

“Receiving the Scholarship meant that I was able to do the course. At the time I was considering doing it, I found myself a single mother with two small children. From there, every door has opened for me, both personally and professionally. It resulted in me working in my absolute dream job and it has changed everything. Having public services and community initiatives that support both employees and employers through their journey is crucial.”

Karen Delgado, deputy director of engagement (corporate & alumni), Ulster University added: “Our long-standing partnership with A&O Shearman reflects the breadth of what strong university-business collaboration can achieve – from widening access scholarships and access to justice, to collaborative research, student prizes, placements, apprenticeships and graduate talent pathways. We are proud of this partnership that continues to invest in our students, strengthens the University’s mission, and delivers meaningful social and economic value across Northern Ireland and beyond.”