The Fox Fund

Scholarships to Toronto

Scholarships for Recently Called or to-be-Called U.K. Barristers

Scholarships for Recently Called or to-be-Called U.K. Barristers

The Harold G. Fox Education Fund was established, amongst other objectives, to enable suitable members of the Middle Temple to undertake for 10 months a placement in the litigation department of a large Toronto law firm, arranged by the Trustees of the Fund in Toronto. These scholarships are open to members of all the Inns.

Two scholarships are awarded to members of the Inn, up to five years’ call or about to be called to the Bar.

Each placement starts in September of 2023 and concludes in June of 2024.

The prestige of a Fox Scholarship is such that past scholars have usually found chambers willing to postpone the start of pupillage or tenancy for the period of the scholarship.

Each recipient of the scholarship receives:

  • A scholarship in the amount of 43,500.00 CAD, in addition to reasonable travelling expenses to and from Toronto, Canada.
  • Accommodations at one of the two lakeside condominium units owned by the Fund. Housing is provided for each scholar at a subsidized cost of 800.00 CAD per month.
  • Placement at a prestigious litigation firm in Toronto for a period of 10 months, inclusive of a mini-placement for one or two weeks in the Ontario Court of Appeal.
  • Membership for the duration of the scholarship in The Advocates’ Society, which provides continuing legal education programs and hosts community events for barristers.
Quotes

The work in Toronto gave me invaluable insight into public interest litigation having undertaken research which went towards cutting-edge human-rights related appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Consequently, I was able to develop a more in-depth understanding of human rights protections in Canada, which was useful when comparing and contrasting with the existing standards in the UK. I also got to attend several trials, including one concerning defamation, and gained unrivalled exposure to high-value and/or complex civil and criminal litigation in this jurisdiction.

U.K. Scholar
Quotes

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. The accommodation, the experience and the learning provided by this scholarship is truly unique. You will get the most out of the scholarship work-wise if you get as involved as possible. The more you put in, the more you will get out. When lawyers realise that you are a valuable team member, more opportunities will open up. That said, be prepared for a lot of the work to be quite challenging. Long hours and difficult cases can be the norm, but it is excellent preparation for pupillage.

Besides the work, enjoy Toronto and Ontario on the weekends as much as possible. It’s a great place which offers a lot for all kinds of interests whether you enjoy the outdoors or enjoying different cuisines. It’s a vibrant place and the location of the apartment is perfect for exploring a lot of downtown by foot. If you have time after the scholarship ends, you can postpone your flight back and take the opportunity to explore the rest of Canada: it’s a beautiful country.”

UK Scholar

Accommodations in Toronto

Accommodations in Toronto

The scholarship owns two condominium units on Queens Quay West, which are southwest facing with views of Toronto’s waterfront and downtown core. The neighbourhood is lively with plenty of shops and restaurants.

Scholars are close enough to Bay Street, the main legal district and street on which many firms have their offices, and can walk or take local transit to work.

Quotes

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. The accommodation, the experience and the learning provided by this scholarship is truly unique. You will get the most out of the scholarship work-wise if you get as involved as possible. The more you put in, the more you will get out. When lawyers realise that you are a valuable team member, more opportunities will open up. That said, be prepared for a lot of the work to be quite challenging. Long hours and difficult cases can be the norm, but it is excellent preparation for pupillage.

Besides the work, enjoy Toronto and Ontario on the weekends as much as possible. It’s a great place which offers a lot for all kinds of interests whether you enjoy the outdoors or enjoying different cuisines. It’s a vibrant place and the location of the apartment is perfect for exploring a lot of downtown by foot. If you have time after the scholarship ends, you can postpone your flight back and take the opportunity to explore the rest of Canada: it’s a beautiful country.”

U.K. Scholar

How to Apply

The application form can be downloaded from the Middle Temple website here.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • A complete application form.
  • A curriculum vitae.
  • One academic reference.
  • Those candidates who are already pupils or tenants should also include a reference from a Pupil Supervisor or Head of Chambers.

Qualifications

Candidates for the Fox Scholarship to Toronto must be:

  • A member of any Inn, of up to five years’ call or about to be called to the Bar.
  • Of good academic standing and supported by one academic reference.
  • If already a pupil or tenant, supported by references from a Pupil Supervisor or Head of Chambers.

The Trustees welcome applications for all backgrounds. There is no age limit for those applying for the scholarships.

Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed to those candidates travelling to the Inn for an interview from outside the M25.

Deadline to Apply

Applications and interviews for this year’s scholarships will be confirmed shortly.  The selection panel will draw up a short list of candidates for interview.

Download Scholarship Form

If you are interested in applying or want to learn more about the scholarship, please check out the previous experiences of Past Scholars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Being a Fox Scholar is more like being an articling student in Canada. As you are not actually an articling student in Canada, you will be unable to undertake any advocacy. However, you will attend court with the Canadian lawyers and have the opportunity to prepare legal documents, such as factums, statements of defence, and research memos. Ask to see precedents, or samples, of these before you start, as the style may be quite different to the skeleton arguments, particulars of claim and opinions you drafted at Bar School. Some firms will have large banks of memos that you can consult.
 
Get involved by showing interest early on and volunteering to work on tasks that need to be done. If you attend court, always take as full a note as you can—it might be helpful later.
 
Past scholars have found the significant benefits of their placement include seeing the fused system at work, being intimately exposed to many complex cases—often in areas different from those you will ultimately practise—and experiencing the working and advocacy styles of many different lawyers.

Rotations change each year, depending on firms’ availability. Placement at the firm is organized by the Fund’s Canadian Trustees. You will work at a Toronto law firm, and you may also have the opportunity to “clerk” at the Ontario Court of Appeal.

You will be expected to work full days, with the working hours varying each day.  Past scholars have said:
 
“The work I did at Lenczner Slaght was the same as the other articling students there. I was able to get involved in mediations, drafting skeleton arguments, research notes, client communication, attend an employment tribunal, amongst various other work. The best thing to do is to challenge yourself and do as much as you can. I developed a great relationship with my colleagues, some of whom I still remain in touch with today..”
-Shanzé Shah
 
“The work I did at Stockwoods LLP gave me invaluable insight into public interest litigation having undertaken research which went towards cutting-edge human-rights related appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada. Consequently, I was able to develop a more in-depth understanding of human rights protections in Canada, which was useful when comparing and contrasting with the existing standards in the UK.  I also got to attend several trials, including one concerning defamation, and gained unrivalled exposure to high-value and/or complex civil and criminal litigation in this jurisdiction. With Stockwoods being a small, boutique firm – I also developed an understanding of how they attract clients, and secure instructions in some of the most interesting appellate work in the land. Plus, given its size, you have the added advantage of getting to know everyone very quickly. This is in no small part helped by regular social events arranged on a weekly basis, so you don’t ever feel lonely!”
-Chevan Ilangaratne
 
“I was at McCarthy Tetrault which is a huge firm with a large litigation department. I realised early on that the more I put in, the more I would get out of my time in Toronto so I started volunteering for work and trying to make myself invaluable. My efforts quickly paid off and I was pulled into some thrilling cases – from clinical negligence, professional negligence and even a conspiracy class action. I would never have seen such a variety of work back in London and it was fun to see some cases at their very inception and to attend others that were the culmination of many years of work. I worked really hard at the firm but I felt that was my choice and I loved every minute of it. I am still friends with colleagues from my time in Toronto and I felt I was in the best possible position to start pupillage when I got home.”
-U.K. Scholar
 

“I was at a large firm with a large litigation department. I realised early on that the more I put in, the more I would get out of my time in Toronto so I started volunteering for work and trying to make myself invaluable. My efforts quickly paid off and I was pulled into some thrilling cases – from clinical negligence, professional negligence and even a conspiracy class action.

I would never have seen such a variety of work back in London and it was fun to see some cases at their very inception and to attend others that were the culmination of many years of work. I worked really hard at the firm but I felt that was my choice and I loved every minute of it. I am still friends with colleagues from my time in Toronto and I felt I was in the best possible position to start pupillage when I got home.”

-U.K. Scholar 

No! Ontario is almost entirely English-speaking, unlike Quebec. While you may hear French and work alongside bilingual lawyers, you are not expected to communicate in French.

Experiences will vary by firm, and there will certainly be multiple events to attend. Depending on the placement firm, the scholar may or may not be accompanied by other articling and/or summer students. They will also meet associates, some of whom will be very junior and others who will be ‘on the partner track’, usually somewhere between 7-10 years at the firm.
 
Scholars will generally find that there are regular coffees, breakfasts, lunches and dinners for lawyers and/or articling students, seasonal marketing drinks and events, and all-firm catch ups to which they are invited to attend.
 
You can meet other people outside of the scholarship by joining groups such as ‘Brits in Toronto’, where it is relatively easy to meet postgraduate students and young families who are there for a limited time or looking to meet new people.
 
Past scholars have said
“I must caveat my experience as I went during the pandemic, but even then Lenczner made a great effort to make things social. We had online pasta making classes and, when it was not possible to host a drinks cart in person, we were sent little parcels in the post. There was a Friday all-firm catch up, which I really enjoyed as you got to learn about all the highly interesting persons at the firm, and I also got the chance to do a presentation about my passion for food culture… I do feel that the firm really made an active effort to make the Fox Scholar feel as involved as possible.”
-Fox Scholar
 
“At Stockwoods there are no articling students and the summer student only begins in May. The main social event is at ‘5-7s’ (Friday night drinks) with the associates and occasionally partners. There is usually a firm retreat and the Fox Scholar is traditionally invited to attend.”
-Fox Scholar
 
“There were often drinks parties, networking and bonding events to which I was invited. If I worked late, the firm would lay on dinner which was also a good way to meet people. Because I was at a big firm, emails would often go out offering free tickets in the firm’s corporate box to attend events that were not suitable for networking (I got to see Christina Aguilera from the best seats in the house!).”
-Fox Scholar
 
Toronto has a buzzing food scene. Previous scholar Shanzé Shah even wrote a blog about it (and there are some details and amazing photos of her travel after the scholarship too!): https://shanzeshah.wixsite.com/khana/post/canada-ah-canada  
 
 
 

Yes, which you can choose to participate in. Some firms will encourage you to take part in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses that they offer to their articling students and lawyers, and there will often be some induction training. Former scholars have found enrolment in these courses to be opportunities well worth seizing as there is little like this back at the self-employed Bar.

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Advocacy Experience Scholarships to London and Toronto

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