With countless late nights preparing for arduous exams, a law degree can be stressful at the best of times – and that’s before you consider how you’ll pay for it all.
Conor Doyle is grateful that he was able to embark on his legal career without major financial anxiety, after winning a Conyers Legal Education Award in 2012, when he was 22.
Mr Doyle, now an associate at Conyers, decided to switch to law when he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Toronto. He recalled: “I wanted to study for a law degree in London but was, initially, discouraged by the high cost of living. That prompted me to explore scholarship options for prospective Bermudian law students. I was pleased to learn that Conyers, in common with other local firms, sponsored an annual legal education scholarship and award programme. I decided to apply.”
Since then, Mr Doyle has not looked back. He claimed a three-year scholarship after impressing the committee with his personal statements, academic transcripts and references; an intense process that culminated with an interview conducted by a team of Conyers lawyers.
“I was thrilled to find out that I was awarded the Conyers Legal Scholarship,” Mr Doyle said.
“I knew that the application process was very competitive and that the firm receives many strong applications each year. I felt that the work I put into my application and preparing for the interview paid off. It was a great relief. The scholarship covered my tuition and living expenses in England, allowing me to focus entirely on my studies.”
The scholarship enabled him to study law at University College London and Columbia Law School: “The most challenging aspect was undoubtedly the end-of-term examinations,” he said. “My first-year property exam in particular springs to mind!
“Notwithstanding that, I immensely enjoyed learning about an entirely new subject in the company of students from dozens of countries. The Conyers Legal Scholarship helped make that possible for me.”
Mr Doyle is now enjoying a fulfilling and rewarding career. After spells working for law firms in New York and Dublin, he returned to Bermuda to join the litigation team at Conyers in 2022 and was called to the Bermuda Bar in front of family and colleagues last year.
“I enjoy being an advocate and helping people find solutions for their legal problems,” he said.
Working in Bermuda, where lawyers need to turn their hand to many different aspects of law, certainly means life is never boring. We do not have as much scope to specialise as lawyers in larger jurisdictions do,” Mr Doyle explained.
“A civil lawyer in Bermuda must be up to speed in various fields of law. That is a challenge but, for me at least, part of the fun. My professional ambitions are to continue to grow my practice and to take on as many interesting and important cases as I can.”
Conyers handed out $70,000 in Legal Education Awards to five Bermudians this year and has underlined its commitment to investing in the education of future legal professions. Mr Doyle said he will always be grateful for the firm’s generous support in funding his legal education and encouraged people to look out for similar opportunities.
“The study of law is difficult,” he said. “It will be easier if you are not also worrying about how you will pay for all of it’. Each year, Conyers awards a generous scholarship and legal awards to aspiring Bermudian law students. Several other firms have similar programmes.
“The island’s legal community is eager to support the next generation of Bermudian law students and does so generously each year. Put yourself in the mix for as many scholarships as you can and treat the scholarship process as seriously as your degree or conversion course applications. It can be just as important.”
But, how can you make your application stand out from the crowd?
Mr Doyle advised: “Research your options and apply to as many as you can. In my opinion, an attractive application will be one that conveys not only academic ability, but a genuine interest in the law as a field of study and potential career.”
For more information, visit conyers.com.
