Supporting Post-Graduate Studies in Common Law

The Right Honourable Viscount Bennett, PC, KC, LLD, DCL, sought to encourage a high standard of legal education, training and excellence. In 1943, he established a trust fund with 100 shares of Royal Bank stock, valued at $100 per share. The value has increased significantly, allowing the Viscount Scholarship Selection Committee (Committee) to award up to three scholarships annually.

An award of up to $20,000 may be paid annually to provide for post-graduate studies in an institution of higher learning, in common law, approved by the Committee. If, in the opinion of the Committee, no suitable application is received, no award will be made. Up to three awards may be made annually if, in the opinion of the Committee, there is justification based on the eligibility requirements.

Applicants must be law graduates or members of the Law Society of Alberta, ordinarily resident in, or if not presently resident in, then with an express intention to return to Alberta. Awards will be made by the Committee based primarily on the academic excellence displayed by the applicant in both university and law school. The Committee may also have regard for the applicant’s:

• degree of involvement in law school, university, community and legal affairs;
• financial need; and
• other scholarships or awards.

Letters of application and all supporting documentation must be sent by email to the Law Society’s Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director no later than midnight on May 1, 2025. Find out more information about the scholarship and application process through this guide.

Scholarship Recipients

Supporting Excellence

In honour of Peter Freeman, QC, and his many contributions to the legal profession in Alberta and his lifelong dedication to legal education, the Law Society of Alberta has established the Peter Freeman, QC, Bursary for Indigenous Students in Law.

The bursary is an endowment that will fund an annual award to an indigenous student, based on academic standing and financial need, at each of the Alberta law faculties.

This award was created in 2001 by the Law Society of Alberta to honour Peter Freeman, QC, who served as the Law Society’s Executive Director from 1989 until his retirement in 2001.

Applications should be provided to the Student Awards Office, Faculty of Law at either the University of Calgary by May 1.

Scholarship Recipients

Supporting Third Year Law Students

The W. Bernie Kelly, QC, Memorial Prize is awarded annually to a student completing third year who is of good academic standing and who has performed with distinction in a skills training, or professional responsibility course and ethics course or program in a faculty of law. Two prizes of $1,000 are awarded annually at each of the Alberta law faculties.

The late William Bernie Kelly, QC served the Law Society of Alberta as Deputy Secretary (1966 – 1969), Secretary Treasurer (1969 – 1987) and Secretary (1987-1988). During this time he was a pioneer in the establishment of the Federation of Law Societies in Canada. The creation of this award was intended to recognize his contribution to the Law Society of Alberta and his interest in encouraging a high level of legal education and practice in Alberta.

Applications should be provided to the Student Awards Office, Faculty of Law at either the University of Calgary or the University of Alberta by May 1 for the year of the scholarship. The award selection is determined by the university.

Scholarship Recipients

Awarded annually to a student on the basis of superior academic achievement in the subject of Administrative Law (Law 450).

Scholarship Recipients

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies annually awards two scholarships for the LLM degree at the University of Cambridge, England. The Right Honourable Paul Martin Sr. Scholarships cover full tuition at the University of Cambridge, a monthly living allowance, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and one return airfare, subject to any other awards received by the successful candidate.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who have been awarded a law degree from a three or four-year program at a faculty of law in a Canadian university in the four years before the candidate will commence his or her studies at the University of Cambridge are eligible for these scholarships.

An applicant must be accepted into the University of Cambridge and a Cambridge College for the LLM in order to receive this scholarship, although such acceptance need not be confirmed at the time of the application for the scholarship nor at the time that the Institute provides the candidate with notice that he or she has been selected to receive the scholarship.

Find out more information and how to apply.

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies’ French Language Scholarship covers the tuition fees payable to a university outside Canada for a course of study conducted in French, as well as a portion of living expenses and travel expenses, subject to any other awards received by the recipient. Each year, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies determines the maximum amount of the scholarship, up to an amount of $20,000 for 2022-2023, taking into account the tuition fees as well as the other anticipated living expenses and travel expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

The purpose of the scholarship is to support advanced legal studies leading to a second-cycle or third-cycle diploma (the equivalent of a master’s or doctoral degree from a Canadian university) at university outside Canada in a program of study that is conducted in French, or to allow for a one-year stay within the scope of a doctoral program jointly supervised with a French-language university outside Canada. The recipient must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in law from a Canadian university within four years preceding the proposed year of studies.

In order to receive the scholarship, the recipient must have been accepted by a university outside Canada into a graduate course of study in law conducted in French or must already be enrolled in and pursuing a jointly supervised doctoral program. Candidates need not have received confirmation of their acceptance at the time of their application or at the time the scholarship recipient is selected.

Find out more information and how to apply.