Bilya Boorn Scholarship for Law Students

The Bilya Boorn Scholarship is a collaborative initiative by seven commercial law firms in Perth (Allens, Clayton Utz, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith Freehills, MinterEllison, Steinepreis Paganin and Thomas Geer) aimed at increasing the representation and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in legal practice in Australia. The scholarship specifically supports First Nations law students in Western Australia by providing up to $20,000 for at least two years of study. In addition to financial support, the scholarship offers ongoing opportunities for professional development and mentoring throughout the scholarship period and beyond. The participating law firms are committed to engaging with scholarship recipients to increase their knowledge of commercial legal practice as a career option, providing valuable industry exposure and networking opportunities. The scholarship is named using the Whadjuk Noongar language, with Bilya meaning 'the river' and Boorn meaning 'the trees,' reflecting the land on which this scholarship exists. The name honors traditional learning and decision-making practices that occurred on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja along the river and among the trees, emphasizing the strong cultural connection to Lore and Law. Eligible applicants must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander domestic students who reside or intend to reside in Western Australia while undertaking their studies. They must be enrolled or intend to enroll in an undergraduate or postgraduate law degree at a Western Australian university with a minimum of two full-time units per semester. Selection criteria include financial hardship and/or personal circumstances, satisfactory academic standing, community engagement, and other achievements.