Lawyers and Advocates are an essential part of society, as they provide professional legal advice and represent their clients in civil and criminal litigation in the courtroom.
Some lawyers even do pro-bono cases to help people who cannot afford legal fees. Although Law requires a lot of dedication and commitment (both while you are studying and while on the job), it can be very competitive, yet an exciting and rewarding career choice.
Here are a few law firms that are offering bursaries for you to consider:
Bowmans Bursary
Bowmans (previously known as Bowman Gilfillan) is a corporate law firm, and is one of South Africa’s “Big Five" law firms. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the firm also has offices in 4 countries across Africa (namely South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda).
Each year, the company invites matriculants with excellent results who intend on studying Law, as well as high achieving students currently studying Law, to apply for the bursary programme. Bursary recipients will be selected based on 2 main criteria: academic merit and financial need.
This is a full cost bursary, which will cover all study related expenses.
Eligibility Requirements:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must have completed Matric or be currently in Matric
- You must be studying or intend on studying towards a Law qualification
- You must be studying or registered to study at a recognised university in South Africa
- You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 70% for your current year of study
- You must have an excellent academic performance
- You must have proven financial need
- You must be passionate about Law
- You must be a team player
- Preference will be given to students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds
Applications must be submitted online.
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application (the submission of these documents is compulsory. If any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- ID document (certified copy)
- Grade 11 final results AND Matric latest results, if currently in Matric (certified copies)
- Matric certificate, if completed Matric (certified copy)
- Full university transcript, if currently studying (certified copy)
- Motivational letter explaining why you deserve to be awarded the bursary
- Parents/ guardians proof of household income (latest payslips if employed: certified copies, affidavit if unemployed, proof of pension or Sassa grant, if applicable)
Gama Attorneys
Gama Attorneys Inc. aims to be the top Black-owned corporate and commercial law firm in South Africa. The niche legal firm specialises in all areas of Corporate and Commercial law, as well as Banking and Finance; Competition law; Financial Services; Labour/ Employment law; Family Law and Litigation.
The firm has offices located in Midrand and Sandton, as well as a presence in Cape Town and Durban.
Students who have recently matriculated and have been accepted to study towards an LLB qualification may apply for bursary funding. The bursary will provide cover the full tuition fees and all study materials.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must have completed Matric in 2020
- Must have been accepted to study towards an LLB qualification
- Must have been accepted to study at a tertiary institution in South Africa
- Must be from a previously disadvantaged background OR must be able to show financial need
Submit clear copies of the following documentation (the submission of these documents is compulsory. If any items are missing, your application will be disregarded):
- ID document (certified copy)
- Matric final results/ certificate (certified copy)
- Proof of acceptance/ provisional acceptance to study LLB at a tertiary institution in SA (on institutions letterhead)
- Full Curriculum Vitae
- Parents/ guardians proof of household income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ bank statements or company documents if self-employed/ proof of grant or pension if applicable/ death certificate if deceased)
Visit the Gama Attorneys website for the latest information.
LegalWise Bursary
LegalWise was founded in the 1984 by Zak Crafford, a then Legal Aid employee. The company aims to provide affordable, equal and fair access to justice and legal assistance for South Africans.
LegalWise is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme. The bursary aims to assist students, both financially and with mentorship support, and enable them to further their studies in fields which LegalWise has a need to recruit.
The bursary is open to LegalWise Members or children of Members, for studies towards the following qualifications:
- Law (BA / BCom / LLB)
- Accounting (BCom)
- Human Resource Management (BCom)
- Industrial Psychology (BCom)
- Information Science (BIS)
- Informatics (BCom / BSc)
- Management (BCom)
You must be studying at one of these approved tertiary institutions:
- University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- University of Witwatersrand (Wits)
- University of Pretoria (UP)
- University of Cape Town (UCT)
- University of the Western Cape (UWC)
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- University of Limpopo
- University of Fort Hare
- University of the Free State (UFS)
- Rhodes University
- North-West University (Mafikeng or Potchefstroom campus)
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
The bursary will provide partial cover for study-related expenses, including annual registration fees and tuition fees (capped at R40,000 per year); the bursary will not cover any outstanding student debt or failed subjects.
The payment of the bursary will depend on the student receiving satisfactory academic results and submitting their results and accounts to the Bursary Administrator on time.
Bursary recipients will be required to take part in paid vacation work at a LegalWise Branch close to them, for 5 weeks per year (2 weeks during the June/July holidays and 3 weeks during the December holidays).
Once students have graduated, they must complete their in-house service obligation. The duration of the service contract is 6 months of paid service for each year of bursary funding received.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a LegalWise Member or a child of a LegalWise Member (biological, adopted or under legal guardianship)
- The LegalWise Member must be fully paid up for a minimum of 2 years before application and must remain a Member for the entire duration of the bursary
- You must have completed Matric
- You must be studying full-time towards one of the qualifications listed above (part-time, distance or correspondence students will NOT be funded)
- You must be entering your second or higher year of study in 2023 (1st year students will NOT be funded)
- You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 60% or “C” symbol for the previous year of study
- You must be fluent in English and at least one other South African official language (able to speak, read and write)
- You must possess the following qualities: a positive attitude, determination, commitment, able to work in a team, show initiative, good communication skills and good interpersonal skills
Download and complete the LegalWise Bursary Application Form.
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory. If any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- ID document (certified copy)
- Passport sized colour photo (attached to the application form)
- Matric certificate (certified copy)
- Most recent tertiary academic transcript, including June exam results (certified copy)
- Proof of university registration for one of the approved degrees (on university letterhead)
- Latest student account (on university letterhead)
- Motivational letter about yourself and why you should be awarded the bursary
- Letter of recommendation by a parent, legal guardian or friend (optional)
- Proof of LegalWise Membership (copy of Membership number or card)
- ID document of LegalWise Member (certified copy)
You will also need to provide proof of relation to LegalWise Member:
- Copy of Membership card, if you are the LegalWise Member
- Birth certificate, if biological child of a LegalWise Member
- Court ordered guardianship, if a adopted child or under legal guardianship of a LegalWise Member
- marriage certificate, if married to a LegalWise Member
- Parent/ guardian/ spouse proof of income (latest financial statements or a sworn affidavit, if self-employed)
- Copy of latest payslip, if employed
- Sworn affidavit, if unemployed
- Payslip from legal guardian, if residing with legal guardian while your parents are still alive
- SASSA grant slip, if applicable
- Death certificate, if deceased
For the latest information, visit the Legalwise website.
Webber Wentzel
Webber Wentzel by formed in 1868 by 5 founders, namley Walter Webber, Charles Augustus Wentzel, Henry Charles Hull, Edward Solomon and Henry Bowen. The African law firm has its headquarters based in Johannesburg and is named as one of the “Big Five" law firms in South Africa.
Webber Wentzel is inviting Law students to apply for bursary funding. Students who are pursuing studies towards an LLB degree, and entering their second last year of study before graduation may apply.
Bursary recipients will be selected based on 4 main factors: academic excellence, financial need, values that align with Webber Wentzel and potential to become successful lawyers.
The partial scholarship will be awarded to assist students with study-related expenses in the last 2 years of their Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. The bursary does not cover all fees, therefore students are required to find alternative sources of funding to cover any shortfalls/outstanding fees.
Students who excel in their studies, may be given the opportunity to partake in the Webber Wentzel Candidate Attorney Programme, on completion of their studies.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must have completed Matric
- You must be studying towards an LLB degree
- You must be registered for the penultimate year of study in 2022
- You must be studying at a recognised tertiary institution in South Africa
- You must have a strong academic record
- You must have achieved and maintained a minimum average of 70%
- You must be from a previously disadvantaged background or you must be in financial need
Applications must be submitted online. Applicants are required to Create an Account before they can Login and apply.
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application (the submission of these documents is compulsory. If any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- ID document (certified copy)
- Matric certificate (certified copy)
- Academic transcripts to date of LLB degree course, including latest exam results (on institutions letterhead)
- Academic transcripts of any other undergraduate qualification and relevant qualifications (on institutions letterhead)
- Latest detailed tertiary fee statement, with all transactions (on institutions letterhead)
- Parents/ guardians/ spouse/ your own proof of income (latest payslips or income tax return if employed/ sworn affidavits if unemployed/ financial statements if self-employed/ proof of pension or grant if applicable)
- Parents/ guardians/ spouse death certificates if deceased (certified copy) (if unavailable, submit sworn affidavits)
- Parents/ own divorce certificate if divorced (certified copy) (sworn affidavits if separated but not divorced)
