Clare Carre and Simon Gittins of Number 10 Advocates are the beneficiaries of the scheme, which is now in its second year and offers support of £15,000 a year for up to two years.
Both are due to be called to the Guernsey Bar in September and will begin undertaking legal aid work from then.
Taking on a significant number of legal aid cases every year is a strict requirement of the scheme, as is that those who receive the bursary are part of the duty advocate rota, which provides lawyers offering immediate and free legal advice at the police station to people after they have been arrested and charged.
‘Guernsey advocates already make a huge contribution to the existing legal aid system through not only their time and expertise, but also the taxes they pay which help fund the system,’ said Guernsey Bar Council Batonnier Marcus Leese.
‘The bursary scheme is an additional step and a further practical expression of the long-standing commitment of the Bar Council, the Institute of Law Guernsey and all advocates to ensuring that everyone in Guernsey has access to justice.’
He said the Bar was delighted by the initial success of the scheme and looked forward to supporting many more candidates in future.
‘Access to justice belongs to everyone in Guernsey – it is the core principle that underpins the rule of law, ensuring that everyone can exercise and protect their fundamental rights and freedoms with the benefit of legal advice and representation,’ said Mr Gittins, who added that it was wonderful to see the Bar Council and the Institute of Law investing in that principle via this scheme.
Jon Barclay of the Institute of Law said that financial pressure should not stand in the way of talented candidates committed to public service.
‘The bursary scheme gives practical support to the next generation of advocates and helps strengthen access to legal representation in areas where the need is greatest,’ he said.
A fresh round of applications is now open at www.guernseybar.com/bursaryscheme.
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