Jamal Jeffers and Oliver Nunn  are pleased to announce that they have personally established and financed an Award at the University of Leicester, in the hope of helping to improve diversity at the Bar of England & Wales.

Arranged with the assistance of Demelza England, Development Manager for Major Gifts and Legacies at the University of Leicester, the Jeffers – Nunn Award will be awarded annually to a Law Student entering their second year of a Law Degree at
Leicester.

The successful recipient of the Jeffers – Nunn Award will be selected on academic merit, have aspirations of practising as a Barrister and be from a demographic group which is under-represented at the Bar, assessed on socio-economic background, ethnicity and other ‘Widening Participation’ grounds.

The Jeffers – Nunn Award consists of a financial award of £640, roughly equivalent to 2 academic years’ worth of textbooks, to help the recipient with the cost of their studies. The recipients of the Award will also be offered mentorship by Jamal & Oliver, to help the student in their pursuit of a career at the Bar.

It is hoped that the introduction of the award will provide students from groups which are under-represented at the Bar with valuable support, both financial and in terms of guidance, which will help them achieve their aspirations, their potential and boost diversity in the profession.
Jamal & Oliver regularly appear in the Courts of Leicester and more widely on the Midland Circuit.

Oliver is a practising Civil Barrister specialising in both Commercial and Landlord & Tenant litigation. His extensive work with local authorities and social landlords also includes pursuing injunctions to prevent anti-social behaviour, protect vulnerable complainants and disrupt organised crime.

Oliver is a graduate of Leicester Law School where he also teaches Undergraduate Law as a Teaching Fellow. He serves on KCH Garden Square’s Pupillage Committee, is a qualified Pupil Supervisor, delivers advocacy training with Lincoln’s Inn to Bar School students and is Public Access qualified.

Oliver said: “Jamal and I both studied Law in Leicester and have enjoyed maintaining our links with the city’s legal education community through our support of both Leicester and DeMontfort Law Schools’ extra-curricular programmes. The two of us share a passion for the profession we are so privileged to be a part of and for supporting the next generation of our ‘learned friends’. Although the Bar has made progress in recent years in boosting diversity in its ranks, there is still much to be done.


 It is important for the Bar to reflect the society it serves. I hope that with this modest initiative, Jamal and I can help students from under-represented groups fulfil their aspirations of qualifying as a Barrister to both their benefit and to that of society at large.”
Jamal is a practising Family Barrister, specialising in Private and Public Law Children matters. Jamal is regularly instructed in matters concerning the welfare of children, including cases of violence and sexual abuse.

Jamal is a graduate of DeMontfort Law School, serves on KCH Garden Square’s Equality & Diversity Committee, the Midland Circuit Social Mobility Committee, is Public Access qualified and is involved in several initiatives to improve diversity in the legal professions. Jamal has also recently been appointed as Assistant Junior on the Midland Circuit.

Jamal said: “I hope this Award serves to increase the diversity in our profession. There is a continued need, in our current climate, to drive the profession forwards so that it is reflective of all people in our society and the public that we serve.


 Oliver and I have been friends and colleagues for a significant time and we often have very opposing views on matters of the day, one place in which we never differ is that of diversity and inclusion. We are acutely aware of the obstacles placed in the path of many and hope, in our own small way through this initiative, to make the path to the Bar a little less difficult and a little fairer for all.”

Both Jamal & Oliver regularly attend Law Schools across the Midlands delivering employability & careers talks, engaging in widening participation events, judging Mooting Competitions and delivering Advocacy Training. By virtue of their legal education and practice, they have strong links to Leicester and hope that by establishing the Jeffers – Nunn Award, they will help to support and inspire the next generation of Barristers, regardless of their background or ethnicity.

Professor Sally Kyd, Head of Leicester Law School, said:
“I’m delighted that the Jeffers – Nunn Award is available to support our students in becoming Citizens of Change. We need to see a change at the Bar with greater diversity to reflect society. We have a wonderfully diverse student body and this Award will help us to support students who have aspirations of pursuing a career at the Bar. I’m particularly grateful not only for the financial support on offer, but also the mentorship from two highly successful barristers who will no doubt have a hugely positive impact on any undergraduate they take under their wings.”

The Jeffers – Nunn Award will be first granted to a Leicester Law School student in the 2021 academic year.