Scholarships to Toronto

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.

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.

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
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.

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.”
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.
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
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.
“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.”
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.
-Fox Scholar
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.