The Trust exists to promote legal writing and legal research through making a series of grants. The Trust is unique in that it is committed to favouring projects put forward by those actively involved in legal practice - often young practitioners - rather than those involved in academic work.
The Trust awards grants for various purposes, whether to fund research, obtain equipment or meet travel and living costs incurred during research or writing activity.
However, please note, the Trust does not make grants to allow students to undertake a course of study at any level.
If you have a project which is already in progress, The Trust will consider supporting its completion as long as it fulfils its other key criteria. However, The Trust does not generally support the completion of theses. Generally, The Trust prefers applications from individuals or small teams rather than institutions.
Awards may be subject to the delivery of key milestones – for example, a detailed table of contents or specimen draft chapters. The Trust will also require regular updates on progress.
The Trust will offer advice to ensure publication of the project, but publication will not be undertaken by the Trust and cannot be guaranteed. The Trust will help you improve the likelihood of your project being published by obtaining confidential readers' reports on material submitted to help you make the amendments which will make your project a success.
Alexander Maxwell went into business as a bookseller and publisher in 1800 and his firm went on to form one half of Sweet & Maxwell Limited in 1889 by merging with a publishing firm set up by Stephen Sweet. The Alexander Maxwell Law Scholarship Trust was set up by his great-grandson, Maurice W. Maxwell, a former Managing Director of Sweet & Maxwell, in memory of his great- grandfather.
This Trust is a Registered Charity, No: 289833.
© Copyright Alexander Maxwell Law Scholarship Trust.