Stephen Denyer Scholarship launched to honour legacy of leading legal sector figure and widen access to justice in the North East
A new initiative, The Stephen Denyer Scholarship, has been launched by the City of London Law Society (CLLS), the City of London Solicitors Company (CLSC), the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF), and the North East Law Centre (NELC), in partnership with the Denyer Family.
The Scholarship celebrates the life and legacy of Stephen Denyer - a widely respected leader in the international legal sector and a passionate advocate for access to justice - by funding four aspiring social welfare solicitors in the North East of England through their SQE qualifications. His early and steadfast support for SWSQF and for City Century has already helped open the door to qualification for what will, in time, be well over a thousand future solicitors.
Patrick McCann, Chief Executive of the City of London Law Society and Co-Founder of SWSQF, said: “Stephen was a gentle giant - intelligent, wise, and kind in equal measure. He had a gift for making others feel seen and valued, and for quietly moving mountains on behalf of people and causes he believed in. His early and steadfast support for SWSQF and for City Century has already helped open the door to qualification for well over a thousand future solicitors. This Scholarship ensures that his commitment to access to justice, to the North East, and to helping others into the profession will continue to make a difference for years to come.”
Helen Denyer, speaking on behalf of the Denyer Family, said:
“Stephen cared deeply about increasing access to justice and helping aspiring lawyers enter the profession. He devoted much of his working life to championing the unrecognised talent of others and mentoring the next generation. Having had his own talent unlocked in the North East at Durham, he would be so pleased that his legacy now helps emerging talent qualify as social welfare solicitors here, using the law in the service of their communities.”
Michael Fawole, Centre Director at the North East Law Centre, said:
“We are extremely grateful to the Denyer Family for their generous donation in Stephen’s memory. This Scholarship will allow us to support and train talented future lawyers who might otherwise never have the opportunity to qualify as social welfare solicitors. It strengthens our mission to widen access to justice across the North East, and we hope that others will be inspired by the Denyer Family’s generosity to help support aspiring social welfare lawyers across the UK.”
The Scholarship, funded by a £50,000 family donation held by CSET, will support four NELC employees to complete the SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses and assessments, with one Stephen Denyer Scholar selected each year. SWSQF aims to match this commitment by funding an additional North East candidate annually for the next four years.
A Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed at the North East Law Centre on 17 November 2025, attended by the Denyer Family, CLLS representatives, and NELC staff.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
The City of London Law Society is the professional representative body for solicitors and law firms in the City of London, including all the largest national and international practitioners. Our membership takes in more than 22,000 solicitors and 70 corporate member firms.
For further information please contact Omeet Atara (Panterra) on +44 7387107136 or [email protected] ,and visit clls.org. We are open to interview requests.