Ailsa Clark (LLB Student) 

When I learned that I had been awarded the John Fitzsimons Memorial Fund, I was overwhelmed with joy.

Growing up in a household marked by a parent's substance use and severe mental health challenges, my early encounters with the law were intertwined with some of the most traumatic experiences of my childhood.

This was further complicated in my twenties when I found myself in an abusive relationship and then, in my early 30s, fell victim to harassment and stalking.

Despite these hardships, I have always believed in the law's potential as a force for positive change, and studying law has been a lifelong dream of mine.

Returning to university at 33 was a daunting prospect, especially as the first in my family to pursue a university education, I knew it would demand balancing a full-time job, caregiving responsibilities, and a rigorous academic schedule. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to achieve excellent grades in all my first-year classes.

However, the financial burden of continuing my studies loomed large. With both my partner and I on low incomes and a young son to care for, affording a second year seemed impossible. Receiving this scholarship has been life-changing, enabling me to pursue my passion while providing for my family and building a better future for us all. I am profoundly grateful to the Fitzsimons Memorial Scholarship Fund for this incredible opportunity—it truly means the world to me.

Jo MacLeod (Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice) 

I started life in a humble home. Money was something we never really had, and we moved around a lot due to various “grown-up” issues which I did not really understand until I was older. 

Growing up, I didn’t have hopes, or dreams, or ambitions. I never found a hobby I loved or really, truly pursued any passions. I never did particularly well in school, failing to achieve anything above a ‘C’ by the time I left high school in 2012. 

I worked full time in various sales and hospitality positions for several years. 

In 2016, when I was 21, I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. 

However, my relationship with her father was turbulent, and when she was just a few months old, we were forced to flee our home. We spent time moving between hotel and temporary homeless accommodation, before finally being offered a permanent home in Leith, in 2018. 

This was the turning point in my life. For the sake of my daughter, I had to be more than a minimum wage barista, and so I looked into returning to study. 

I was offered a place to study Legal Services at Edinburgh College, which was a surprise to everyone. Law was something I had never actually considered, and I mainly pursued study of the subject out of a strong sense of justice for myself. Who would have thought that I was actually… kind of good at it? The study of law made sense to me, and for the first time in my life, I felt that I had found something that I was passionate about. 

It was Sarah, my Tutor in college, who encouraged me to a point where I felt confident in my ability. However, the initial two-year HND was far from easy:  I found out that I was dyslexic, and later that I had ADHD, alongside a myriad of mental health troubles. Finally receiving a diagnosis allowed me to access the support that I needed to help me succeed. In turn, I moved on to the LLB at Edinburgh Napier in 2020 and graduated in 2024 with a 2:1, having since secured a training contract with a prestigious firm which I will begin on completion of the Diploma in Legal Practice at Strathclyde. 

This is still quite surreal to me. I am the first in my family to go to university, and honestly, I always thought that getting a degree was beyond my capability. So, can you imagine my shock when I was offered a place on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in 2024? I am still struggling to process that I am here, and I am succeeding. 

I have struggled with low self-esteem and low confidence throughout my life.  Becoming a recipient of the John Fitzsimons Memorial Fund for me is more than just a helping hand. It is a sign that I am worthy and capable of being here, and that there are people that believe I can do this. 

With that being said, I will not pretend that the financial aspect doesn’t help also. With the assistance of the fund, I can support family life alongside being a full-time post graduate student. I cannot stress enough how much this benefits not just me, but my daughter too: without the award I likely would not have been able to afford to sit the Diploma at all. 

All I can say is thank you to the board and supporters of the John Fitzsimons Fund, for giving me an opportunity, and for seeing my potential.

Victoria McCardel (Post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice) 

I became a student in the LLB Graduate program in 2022 as a mature student and a single Mum. Studying law had always been a dream, and I never thought I would have the opportunity to pursue it later in life. However, my personal experiences made me realize my passion for the law.

I went through a lengthy, four-year divorce while raising two young children. During this time, I lost my two businesses and had very little income.

Although the experience was traumatic, it gave me the courage to apply to study law. After everything I had been through, and the abuse I had escaped, I wanted to prove to myself and to my children that when you put your mind to something and work hard, your dreams can come true.

The first two years were extremely difficult, and I was under immense financial pressure. Studying full-time left no spare time for a job, and my outgoings were overwhelming. Any support I received was reduced to the bare minimum because student loans were seen as income, even though they were used to pay my fees.

I found it extremely difficult to share my story in much detail, but I finally mustered the courage to write about my past experiences and hardships when applying for the John Fitzsimons Scholarship. I was over the moon when I received the email saying I had been successful. I can’t express how much of a difference this scholarship has made. It has enabled me to return to complete my Diploma, and pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer.

The John Fitzsimons Fund is such a fantastic cause, and I am incredibly grateful. I look forward to helping others in the future, just as I have been helped.