The Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund Bursary 2027 is open for eligible law students and legal professionals. The LPFF supports selected LLB students from second year onwards, as well as qualifying LLM or further-study applicants who are practising attorneys or candidate attorneys.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund (LPFF)
Opportunity type: Law bursary
Who it’s for: Eligible LLB students, practising attorneys and candidate attorneys
Study level: LLB from second year onwards; LLM and further legal study for qualifying legal practitioners
Institution type: Public South African universities
Applications open: 1 April annually
Closing date: 15 August 2026 at midnight
Last verified: 16 July 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
LPFF does not fund first-year LLB students. Applicants must have completed the first year of the LLB and be entering at least second year when applying for later-year support.
The bursary covers tuition fees only. Applications are strictly online through the LPFF student portal; manual, emailed and faxed applications are not accepted.
About the sponsor
The Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund protects the public against certain losses caused by legal practitioners and also supports legal education and professional development through its bursary programme.
What it covers
The LPFF bursary covers tuition fees only. Applicants should arrange separate funding for accommodation, meals, books and other living costs.
Eligibility
- LLB applicants must be in at least their second year of study
- Second-year LLB students may apply for funding for third and fourth year
- Third-year LLB students may apply for funding for their final year
- Students who completed a BA Law or BCom Law may apply when transitioning into the final two years of the LLB
- Applicants must study at a public South African university
- Latest academic average must exceed 50%
- Foreign applicants must hold South African permanent residence
- LLM or further-study applicants must have completed an LLB and must be practising attorneys or candidate attorneys
- State-employed and unemployed applicants do not qualify for the LLM/further-study route
Documents to prepare
- Digital photograph
- Certified ID copy or passport
- Certified permanent-residence document where applicable
- Recent academic transcript
- Testimonial letter from the university
- Proof of employment or payslip for employed applicants
- Any additional supporting documents requested in the LPFF portal
Closing date
15 August 2026 at midnight.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying as a first-year LLB student
- Applying from a private institution
- Assuming accommodation or books are funded
- Submitting manually or by email instead of through the online portal
- Uploading an incomplete academic record or missing testimonial
How this opportunity was verified
Verified against the current LPFF bursaries page and student portal. LPFF confirms the annual 1 April opening date, 15 August closing date, supported law programmes, tuition-only coverage and online-only submission process.
How to apply
- Open the LPFF Student Portal.
- Register using a working email address, ID/passport number and cellphone number.
- Select the appropriate LLB or LLM/further-study bursary route.
- Complete the application and upload the required documents.
- Submit before midnight on the closing date.