Birmingham Law Society (BLS) is delighted to announce Hasan Ahmed and Korya Xhignesse as the recipients of its 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Scheme (DIS) scholarships.
Established in 2020, the Diversity and Inclusion Scheme was created to support aspiring solicitors from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds by helping to remove barriers to qualification. Delivered in partnership with The University of Law, The College of Legal Practice, Higgs LLP and Devonshires, the scheme provides successful applicants with financial support towards the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), alongside mentoring, work experience and career development opportunities.
Following a highly competitive application and interview process, Birmingham Law Society is proud to congratulate this year’s recipients, whose determination, resilience and commitment to a career in law impressed the judging panel.
Hasan Ahmed, 24, said:
“Being awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Scheme is an honour and a significant milestone in my journey. Through this scheme, I am able to further my goal of qualifying as a Solicitor. As someone with no connections in the legal sector and one of the first in my family to attend university, this scholarship is proof that, regardless of your background or journey into law, success can be achieved through hard work and determination.
I have championed the importance of diversity and inclusion, particularly during my time as President of Aston Law Society (2023/24), and it is something I will continue to advocate for with pride as a recipient of this scheme.”
Korya Xhignesse, 24, said:
“Being awarded the Birmingham Law Society Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship is a humbling and major step in my legal career, and I am truly grateful for this moment.
Being the first person in my family to leave her home country and everything she has ever known to study law, I feel like this opportunity will make a significant difference to the trajectory of my career and education. I will have the chance to prepare for the SQE while receiving support and mentorship. I am looking forward to making the most of it!”
The Diversity and Inclusion Scheme continues to play a vital role in widening access to the legal profession, ensuring talented individuals are supported to achieve their ambitions regardless of their background.
Paul Doddridge, Campus Director (Birmingham/Nottingham) at The University of Law, said:
“It is a privilege to be involved in a programme that helps talented future lawyers realise their ambitions. The determination, resilience and potential demonstrated by this year’s successful candidates has been truly inspiring. At The University of Law, we are committed to ensuring that ability and aspiration—not background—determine opportunity, and we are proud to play a part in helping create a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.”
Scarlett McGinley-Hughes, Student Services Manager at The College of Legal Practice, said:
“The College of Legal Practice is very proud to continue to be part of this important scheme, recognising the talent and potential of all of the candidates involved. We are delighted to continue working with Birmingham Law Society to support in overcoming financial barriers, and remain committed to widening participation to the legal profession through accessible training. We’re very excited to support Korya through her SQE preparation journey, as part of her well-deserved scholarship award.”
Hardeep Kharbanda-Camp, Resource and Inclusion Advisor at Higgs LLP, said:
“At Higgs, we believe our differences make us stronger. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. By celebrating different perspectives and removing barriers to opportunity, we are building a more inclusive profession for the future. Our continued participation in the Diversity & Inclusion Scheme is one of the many ways we bring this commitment to life, opening doors, nurturing talent and helping individuals build rewarding careers in law.”
Sharon Thandi, Partner at Devonshires and co-chair of the BLS Social Mobility Committee added:
“I am thrilled that the Birmingham Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Scheme, now in its seventh year, continues to support talented individuals from diverse and under-represented backgrounds. It has been great to see the success of the scheme as a driver to improve access to opportunity and social mobility within our legal profession. At Devonshires we are committed to supporting individuals take the next steps in their careers and increasing access to opportunities to help foster a truly inclusive legal sector and so we are delighted to have been able to support the scheme this year. My thanks also go to our other partner organisations, Higgs LLP, the University of Law and the College of Legal Practice for their continued support with the scheme. Lastly congratulations to Hasan and Korya, this year’s successful candidates!”