A legal firm is once again offering a £1,000 bursary to help a student with their law studies.

Kitson & Trotman first ran the scheme last year, and it was so successful it’s now being extended to west Dorset.

The bursary will be available to Year 13 students who are planning to go on to study law at university and are currently attending a secondary school in Bridport, Beaminster, Lyme Regis, Dorchester, Weymouth or studying at Weymouth College.

The bursary was first awarded to Weymouth student Nikki Hannon last year to mark the opening of Kitson & Trotman’s office in St Albans Street, Weymouth.

Solicitor Stephen Jones, who heads the Weymouth office, has lived in the town all his life and decided on a career in law after being inspired by a conversation with a lawyer at an open evening at Weymouth College.

Kitson & Trotman partner Richard King said: “The bursary scheme was such a success we decided we would extend it to other local schools in our area.”

Nikki was a student at Budmouth College, Weymouth, and took up her place to study Law at King’s College, London, last September after a successful set of A Level results in Law, English Literature and History.

She said: “I’m really grateful to Kitson & Trotman for the bursary. It is very helpful, especially in London.”

Mr King added: “We were delighted to be able to help Nikki take her first important steps on her career journey.”

“She tells us the award really helped her in her first year. It would be good to think this bursary might encourage another young person in south and west Dorset to think about becoming a lawyer.”

Nikki also carried out work experience at the firm’s Weymouth office.

Kitson & Trotman, which was established in 1756, specialises in property, wills and probate, business, family, dispute resolution and agriculture. The firm sponsors a number of events in the area, including The Melplash Show, the Beaminster Festival, Buckham Fair, Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week and the Bridport Literary Festival and has just been shortlisted in the Dorset Legal Awards in the ‘Contribution to the Community’ category.

To apply for the Kitson & Trotman £1,000 bursary students must be in year 13 and attend a secondary school in Bridport, Beaminster, Lyme Regis, Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland or study at Weymouth College.

They should say in 500 words why they want to be a lawyer and email it to s.jones@ktlaw.co.uk by February 28.