MJM has a well-established reputation as one of the island’s leading law firms.
That status has been forged based on its stellar legal advice, and also due to its activities as a good corporate citizen of Bermuda.
In addition to its generous charitable giving programme, and its attorneys performing pro bono work and sitting on government boards, MJM supports aspiring lawyers on the island by offering an annual scholarship.
First awarded in 1998, the MJM Legal Scholarship is given to an outstanding Bermudian or Permanent Resident Certificate holder who aspires to enter the field of law and is committed to return to Bermuda to practise. The award may be renewed for up to three years.
In 2025, scholarship recipient Emily Orchard was given $15,000 while Za’Khari Turner received a $5,000 bursary.
Ms Orchard is studying law at the University of Birmingham, and Ms Turner is enrolled in the law programme at De Montfort University in Leicester, England.
During the current school year, a combination of last year’s recipients and previous awardees Imani Bell ($15,000) and Sarah Medeiros ($10,000) received a total of $45,000 from the firm. Since inception of the scholarship, the firm has awarded several hundred thousand dollars to deserving students.
Giving something back
Jeremy Leese, a director of the firm and head of its corporate department, said: “Our standard advertised amount has been $15,000 for several years, but in recent times, with tuition fees and expenses for students on the increase, we have sought to provide more funds, often split between two students, when we are able and when worthy candidates have applied.”
He said the scholarship and bursary awards underline the firm’s support of the community.
“We are a Bermudian law firm, with majority Bermudian ownership and majority Bermudian staff. We believe that it is of the utmost importance to give something back, to help those coming up after us, and to contribute to the development of the Bermudian lawyers of the future.”
Applications for the scholarship close on June 1. Shortlisted candidates must be available to attend a personal interview with the firm’s scholarship committee, which are held from mid-June to early July. Announcements are made in mid-July.
In addition to a citizenship requirement, a successful candidate must be at least 18 and enrolled in law school or a postgraduate vocational course (bar vocational course, legal practice course) or equivalent that leads to a Commonwealth qualification and subsequent admission to the Bermuda Bar.
Applicants must complete an application form, as well as submit a wide variety of supporting documents. They include a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, letter of acceptance from an approved university or institution, academic letter of recommendation, 1,500-word essay, proof of citizenship or PRC status, character reference, copies of educational certificates and transcripts.
Of the qualities that the firm looks for when deciding on a scholarship or bursary recipient, Mr Leese said: “There is a combination of two factors at play – the raw material to be a lawyer in the future and financial need. We try to balance the two in our deliberations.
“Financial need is common amongst virtually all applicants, so we use the cover letters, CVs, educational results, the 1,500-word statements and the interview process to analyse the respective strengths of candidates.
“We want to see evidence of intellectual curiosity, independent thought, self-confidence and maturity and a genuine interest in the practise of law.
“For any prospective applicants, I would suggest considering how you can stand out from the crowd, bearing in mind that we might receive and read a dozen submissions each year.”
He added: “Oh, and we are lawyers, words are our livelihood, so good grammar and spelling are a must.”
Launching careers
Thirty-two staff work at the law firm, 23 of whom are Bermudian.
Mr Leese said: “We have had plenty of our award winners become pupils of the firm, and several go on to become qualified attorneys with the firm after that.
“A number of our past award winners are still working in Bermuda as lawyers, some with other law firms and some occupying in-house positions.”
He added: “We take great pride in being a part of their journey and hope that the training with which we provided them stands them in good stead to have a long and successful career in the legal profession.”
In addition to the scholarship or bursary award, students may be offered summer and Christmas employment, depending upon need and staff availability.
They are also given preferential consideration for pupillage opportunities, and the firm provides access to MJM attorneys to assist students while at university or law school when they have questions or need practical support when completing coursework.
MJM has a broad ranging practice with an emphasis on civil and commercial litigation, banking and finance, general corporate, trusts, insolvency, restructuring, insurance and reinsurance. It also offers advice and services to international individual and commercial private clients.
In addition to the law practice, Quorum Limited is licensed to conduct corporate service provider business and trust business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, and Quorum Services Limited is licensed to carry on corporate service provider business by the BMA.
Full details about the scholarship, including how to apply, can be obtained from MJM by emailing the firm at [email protected].
