The Sergey Prokofiev Bar Professional Development Fund was established by a group of Sergey Prokofiev's (College of St Hild and St Bede, 2003) family and friends in memory of his life. Below, James Onalaja (College of St Hild and St Bede, 2003) and Mike Wilkinson (University College, 2003) explain their motivation.

"Sergey Prokofiev – no, not the composer, but the former Durham law student and Barrister – was a truly extraordinary, utterly unconventional, phenomenal advocate and a great legal mind. He had an unusual zest for life, for exploring every corner of the world, for soaking up different cultures, languages and histories and for indulging in every cuisine, delicacy or drink-creation known to man. His innate curiosity and charismatic enthusiasm were truly infectious gifts for those of us lucky enough to have known him – in Durham, at the Bar or in the wider legal community.

 Tragically, he was taken from us, by cancer, at a far too young age of 31 years.

 When friends of Sergey’s came together recently to mark 10 years of his passing, wanting to pay tribute to him and to share with the world the many memories he generously left us with, we had the idea that resulted in the creation of this – the Durham University Sergey Prokofiev Bar Professional Development Fund.

 Sergey’s friends from Durham University, the Bar and the wider legal community have joined with his family to create this fund. The idea comes from something Sergey often spoke about whilst at Durham, trying to make it to the Bar. The costs of that– doing many unpaid placements, attending moots, debates, and other legal events including at the Inns of Court (often at a fee) whilst also covering accommodation, travel and food costs – impedes access to the Bar for law students coming from lower-income families particularly outside of London or the big cities, perpetuating the image of the Bar as a profession for the privileged, rather than the best. 

With that in mind, we have worked with the Durham University Development and Alumni Relations Office and Durham Law School to create the Sergey Prokofiev Bar Development Fund, with the aim of providing funds to assist those aiming for the Bar by contributing towards the costs of gaining the experiences and undertaking the activities needed to help aspiring students enhance their prospects. It is open to any Durham Law School UK students, asylum seeking students and other individuals from low socioeconomic and underrepresented backgrounds, requiring assistance. This can include help towards the costs of attending activities such as: mooting and debating competitions; going on mini-pupillages; doing other legal or related work experiences; getting Bar experience; visiting the Inns of Court; going on court visits; joining professional legal associations, and volunteering on advocacy projects - in the UK and abroad. But this list is by no means exhaustive. If you are an aspiring barrister and you have an idea that might improve your chances and you could do with a helping hand, the fund will be happy to hear your proposals and consider your application.

 We hope that this initiative will help guide eligible and deserving Durham law students towards a career at the Bar. We are most grateful to all those who have so generously pledged and contributed towards getting this fund up and running. We now open the fund to and invite all those who knew Sergey and/or share his ethos of wanting to encourage and help lift up others around him, to join us on this journey – to create what we hope will be a larger, lasting fund that will assist Durham law students long into the future, and help the next generation make their impact. As Sergey would say: ‘let’s do it already!’"