A young Scots mum, who quit her job as a Starbucks barista, is on her way to pursuing her dreams after winning a prestigious scholarship.
Jo MacLeod, 27, left school at 17 and went on to work in a number of retail jobs before taking on a full-time position at Starbucks. However, in hopes of providing better life opportunities for her daughter, the mum decided to take a leap of faith and give up her job to return to college.
Jo, originally from Stirling and now living in Leith, gained a HND in legal studies and is currently a third year law undergraduate at Edinburgh Napier University. Edinburgh Live reports that she has now been granted the Kirk Murdoch Scholarship, which was set up in memory of the respected lawyer and business leader, who was the Scotland chair of Pinsent Masons'.
The scholarship will give Jo financial support, career mentoring, a summer work placement, and she can potentially be awarded a legal traineeship at Pinsent Masons on graduation from university.
The mum said: "When I left school at 17, I went to university to study sociology and politics but it wasn't for me. Since then I have worked in retail, but I realised I didn't want to work in a coffee shop forever and decided to get back into higher education.
"A big attraction for studying law was that there are so many potential job routes once you graduate. It's all about providing the best life opportunities for my daughter and a legal career opens up so many opportunities."
"I think most people view criminal law as pretty cool, but once you start studying law you realise there are so many other areas that you can specialise in, and I found my brief introduction to corporate law really exciting and I think I really connected with that.
"Pinsent Masons is such a well-known reputable law firm and being lucky enough to be offered the Kirk Murdoch Scholarship is a great opportunity which will be a tremendous support as I complete my studies."
Former University of Dundee law student Emilia Gordon, who was the Kirk Murdoch Scholar in 2020, has recently been awarded a traineeship and will join Pinsent Masons' London office.
Chair of Pinsent Masons in Scotland, Katharine Hardie, said: "Kirk Murdoch championed talented young lawyers throughout his own career and was always willing to give of his time and encouragement to younger colleagues to enable them to achieve their potential.
"He would be delighted at the quality of undergraduates who are benefitting from a scholarship in his name and that his legacy is enabling students to enter the profession.
"Emilia Gordon is a fine example of what can be achieved when potential is nourished and encouraged, and I am confident our latest scholar Jo will do her best to follow a similar path as she progresses in her legal career."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
