A national firm has created a bursary programme to give students a leg up into the law in honour of its late managing partner.

Freeths has established the scheme to provide undergraduate law students with £4,000 a year for three years, with a focus on the socio-economic backgrounds of those involved.

The firm launched the programme to honour the legacy of Mukesh Patel, former managing partner of Freeths’ Leicester office, who died in February aged 54.

Patel was born and went to school in Leicester, and the money will be allocated to four students at each of the University of Leicester and De Montfort University in his memory.

Lisa Gilligan, managing partner of Freeths Leicester, said Patel was always ready to help, encourage and support students, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds.

Mukesh Patel

Mukesh Patel, former managing partner of Freeths’ Leicester office, died in February

‘We hope that this bursary will not only ensure that we continue to honour his vision and passion but also help to support a pipeline of local law graduates to progress their careers in our region,' she said. ‘Graduate retention in Leicester is a well-documented challenge and the bursary will help Freeths to play its part in addressing this head on.’

Patel’s wife and two sons added: ‘From humble beginnings himself, Mukesh was a firm believer that anyone with passion and drive should be afforded every opportunity.’

In addition to the financial award, Freeths will provide the students with a mentor throughout their degree course, a paid summer placement as well as an interview for the firm’s graduate apprenticeship scheme (subject to qualifying criteria) based in the Leicester office.