Barista wins fourth Kirk Murdoch Scholarship

A barista who is determined to carve out a career in law has become the fourth recipient of the Kirk Murdoch Scholarship, set up in memory of the former Scotland chairman of Pinsent Masons.

Jo MacLeod (27) worked in a number of retail jobs after leaving school, but gave up her full time Starbucks position to return to college to obtain an HND in legal studies. The mother of a six year old daughter, she is now a third year law undergraduate at Edinburgh Napier University. 

The scholarship is aligned with the Lawscot Foundation, a charity established by the Law Society of Scotland to help talented students from less advantaged backgrounds to access a career in law.

Scholarship students receive financial support, career mentoring, a summer work placement, and can potentially be awarded a legal traineeship at Pinsent Masons on graduation from university.

Former University of Dundee law student Emilia Gordon, who was the Kirk Murdoch Scholar in 2020, has recently been awarded a traineeship and will join Pinsent Masons’ London office.

Chair of Pinsent Masons in Scotland, Katharine Hardie, said: "Kirk Murdoch championed talented young lawyers throughout his own career and was always willing to give of his time and encouragement to younger colleagues to enable them to achieve their potential.

"He would be delighted at the quality of undergraduates who are benefitting from a scholarship in his name and that his legacy is enabling students to enter the profession."