David Chidgey
The first ever Kalisher Scholar, David Chidgey, who won the Scholarship whilst at Nottingham Law School in 2000 practises from Albion Chambers in Bristol specialising in criminal work and asset forfeiture proceedings. He is the author of the Forfeiture section in Jordan’s “Magistrates’ Courts Criminal Practice.”
David writes:
Late in 1999. Nottingham Law School. Student loans. Course fee. Living expenses. No pupilage. Excited but concerned. How am I going to afford this? Will I get a pupilage?
My emotions back then were pretty universally shared. We had ignored the £30k training contracts offered by the city firms who paid for their trainees to do the vocational stage. We knew what we wanted to do and d*** it we were going to do it. It may be that some insecurity is a good thing in that only the most determined will apply. Of course the greater danger is that only those who can afford to will apply.
I don’t know where I saw the advert for the Kalisher Scholarship. It may have been in a magazine or it may have been passed round the law school. By that time I had paid the first installment of my course fees (total £6500) and faced the grim prospect of going down to the bank to ask for something to live on.
Looking back on it I feel slightly embarrassed, but at the time I thought it was a good idea to do my written application in the form of a play. I called it “The Kalisher Claimant” in reference to the case of “The Titchborne Claimant”, a man who many years ago claimed to be the heir to the Titchborne fortune. The play involved three Court of Appeal Judges cross-examining me as to why I should receive the scholarship. I was then interviewed by Stephen Kramer Q.C., Peter Doyle, William Hughes and one other, alas I forget your name and I apologise.
When I received the news that I had been awarded the scholarship I was ecstatic. It remains one of the most difficult things I have ever done; but I was told I was not to tell people at the law school and I managed that. My celebration was limited to going to a private room and punching the air a few times.
The boost in confidence that gave me was enormous. It was not only the easing of my financial worries but also the vote of confidence. I read recently a saying that has some relevance: “So many people have been able to do something they never thought they could…because somebody else thought they could." I think it’s a good lesson in life, in the importance of encouraging other people. I never met Michael Kalisher Q.C.; but when I did my research for that interview I found only tributes to his courage and his ability. I am very pleased to receive this opportunity to say thank you to Michael Kalisher Q.C., the scholarship committee and the people who contributed to the scholarship. I hope that the encouragement and support that I was given will continue to be given to others.