Self-Arranged Scholarships
Self- Arranged Scholarships are available to tenants or employed barristers of each of the Inns up to seven years' practice as a barrister (not including pupillage). Awards will be considered for a variety of legal leaning proposals. It should be stressed that, whilst offering opportunities for travel within the country to be visited, a Pegasus Scholarship should not be regarded as a holiday.
Applications for 2026 placements will open on Friday 26 September 2025, with a deadline of 11.59pm on Sunday 30 November 2025.
Before applying for a self-arranged placement applicants are advised to read the guidelines below:
2026 Placements
Applicants are advised to check the list of available arranged placements. If applying for a placement in a location and specialism already offered by the Trust applicants are advised to apply via the arranged route
In line with Trust organised placements, the Trust will consider self-arranged proposals between 4-12 weeks in length. Placements lasting longer than 12 weeks may still be considered, however funding may only be pitched for up to 12 weeks of the programme.
The Pegasus Scholarship Trust will consider a wide range of placements with a legal based focus. Whilst the area of law may vary the placements should ideally consist of the following.
- The placement should involve working full-time across each working week
- Scholars should have the opportunity to shadow or observe a variety of different legal settings or individuals
- Scholars should have the opportunity to engage with legal professionals in the location with which their placement is taking place.
Applicants will be asked to provide details of their placement as part of their application .
In line with the Trust’s organised placements the Pegasus Scholarship Trust will fund a maximum weekly stipend of up to £500 per week of placement in addition to travel costs to and from the proposed country of placement. The stipend is to be used to cover accommodation and living expenses whilst undertaking placement.
Please note the £500 per week stipend is the maximum available for a weekly stipend. Applicants will be asked to provide accurate of costs of accommodation, and weekly living expenses in the proposed location.
At the point of application, the Trust does not expect applicants to have fully confirmed their placement, but that applicants should have made contact with the host organisation prior to application submission. Applicants will be asked to provide details as to what the placement will involved as part of their application.
Upon completion of placement the Trust will ask that the host organisation sign a form provided by the Pegasus Scholarship Trust to confirm the placement has been completed.
Applications for 2026 proposals will open Friday 26 September 2025
Application Process
The Pegasus Scholarship Trust is a pan-Inn organisation, and as such members of any of the four Inns of Court can apply.
Applicants must be:
- Practicing at the Bar of England and Wales, either as a Tenant in Chambers or as part of the Employed Bar.
- Within their first 7 years of practice (not including pupillage). (This is defined by applicants not superseding 7 years' experience by December 31 of the year of application. Applicants with a break in practice during this time, due to illness, life or career change, Maternity or Paternity leave; any other circumstances beyond their control may write to the Pegasus Scholarship Trust to receive a dispensation.)
- Able to obtain written permission to undertake any placement offered from either their Employer or Head of Chambers and Head Clerk
- Confirm that they intend to return and remain in practice at the Bar of England and Wales after completing their placement for a duration of at least 3 years. (This is to be confirmed when signing their Undertaking form if offered a placement).
For 2026 placements
Applications open: on Friday 26 September 2025
Application submission deadline: 11.59pm on Sunday 30 November 2025
Your application and interview will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Professional Achievement & Academic Performance - Evidenced by professional and personal acheivement to date, and academic performance at university and the Bar Course
- Motivation - (i) Committment to the Bar of England and Wales (employed or self-employed); (ii) Commitment to learning about the common law system outside of England and Wales; (iii) Ability to act as an ambassador for the Pegasus Scholarship Trust, Inns of Court, and the Bar of England and Wales, both during the scholarship placement and by using the experience on return; (iv) Resilience
- Interpersonal Skills - (i) Ability to build and sustain productive working relationships, treat people with courtesy and respect regardless of their background or circumstances; (ii) Demonstrate awareness of socio-political and cultural differences and ability to adapt to working practices within different workplaces and cultures; (iii) Being adaptable and flexible by being self-aware and self-directed; (iv) Good communication skills
- Advocacy Skills - (i) i. Deploys precise and well- reasoned arguments, with clarity and fluency; (ii) Can demonstrate persuasiveness and conviction; (iii) Can tailor style to suit audience
To apply for a placement organised by the Trust, or a self-arranged placement, you must complete an online application form. The form will be linked above on this page when applications are open.
The application form is divided into the following section: personal details, education, work experience, supporting information, placement information, further information, and equal opportunities monitoring (not compulsory).
Applicants are required to arrange for two references to be included in support of an application. All referees should have known the applicant for at least 6 months, and references should be as detailed as possible. Please note that family members cannot provide references.
As part of the application form, applicants will be required to provide the names and contact details for their referees. An automatic email will then be sent to the referees, asking them to upload their reference directly to us.
The Pegasus Scholarship Trust team will be holding a webinar and Q&A regarding the 2025 applications followed by a Q&A session, this session is open to anyone interested in applying for a Pegasus Scholarship Trust placement or self-arranged placement.
The webinar and Q&A will be held from:
6.00-7.00pm, Thursday 25 September 2025 via Zoom
5.30-6.30pm, Tuesday 4 November 2025 via Zoom.
Links to follow