Law students, you are in luck! The Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund is now accepting applications for its bursary program.
This is a great opportunity for any aspiring law students that want to see their academic goals reached but lack the financial means to do so.
The best part is that this bursary program will also be able to help you if you are a postgraduate student too.
Below is a breakdown of exactly how this bursary works and what it will need from you during the application process. If this is something that seems promising, then you should apply right away!
Closing Date
The LPFF Bursary application period will end on 15 August 2022 at 12 pm.
Please make sure to submit your application and any other supporting materials by this date.
Your application won’t be taken into account by the scholarship provider if you don’t do this.
What Is This Bursary About?
Protecting the public from loss due to trust fund theft is the responsibility of the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund (LPFF), formerly known as the Attorneys Fidelity Fund (AFF).
The main goal of the AFF is to compensate clients who hired attorneys and might incur financial losses as a result of theft (either of money or property that was given to the attorney for protection).
The AFF is a fidelity guarantee fund that promotes the use of legal services by the general population.
For the academic year 2023–2024, the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund is inviting students to apply for their bursary program.
There will be scholarships given for both undergraduate and graduate law studies.
Funding will be provided to undergraduate students for the final two years of their LLB study. The money for the third and fourth years of study will go to students who are in their second year of study, and the funds for the final year of study will go to students who are in their third year of study.
Postgraduate students who want to raise professional standards must be active attorneys or candidates for admission to the bar.
Who Can Apply
This bursary applies to Law students in both undergraduate and postgraduate categories. However, students will still need to meet the following requirements to be considered for this bursary:
Undergraduates:
- You must be a permanent resident of South Africa or a citizen of South Africa.
- You must be a Matric graduate.
- You must be working toward an LLB degree.
- You must have two years or fewer left to earn your LLB degree.
- You must be enrolled in a reputable university in South Africa.
- Students with a high academic record and those in extreme financial need will be given preference.
Postgraduates:
- You must be a permanent resident of South Africa OR a citizen of South Africa.
- You must be a Matric graduate.
- You must have earned a respectable undergraduate degree.
- You must be a candidate attorney or an attorney in active practice.
- You must be enrolled in a reputable university in South Africa.
What Does This Bursary Cover?
The Fund will choose the bursary coverage amount, up to a cap set by the Minister of Justice each year.
Each candidate will receive a written acknowledgment of their submission. The results of the application will be sent to applicants shortly after the deadline for the bursary.
Within six months of receiving their letter of award, successful bursary recipients must decide whether to accept or reject the prize.
How To Apply
Applications for the LPFF Bursary are simple. Your first step will require you to download and complete one of the following application forms, depending on your level of study:
Along with your completed application form, send in clear copies of the following supporting documents (submitting these documents is required; if any are missing, your application may be rejected):
Undergraduate students will need the following:
- Size of a passport Photograph (to be attached to the application form).
- A South African ID card OR permanent residency in South Africa (certified copy).
- Certified copies of grades, including first-semester results (on institutes letterhead).
- Testimony from the dean of your law school (must refer to your academic record, and if in serious financial need, testify as to your ability to complete the LLB degree within the prescribed period).
Postgraduate students will need the following:
- Passport size Photograph (to be attached to the application form).
- South Africa ID document OR South African permanent residence (certified copy).
- Academic record official transcript, including results for semester 1 (on institutes letterhead).
- Complete degree and complete academic record (on institutes letterhead).
- Salary advice slip.
- Testimonial by the Dean of your Faculty of Law (must refer to your academic record, and if in serious financial need, testify as to your ability to complete the LLB degree within the prescribed period).
- Full details of any other bursary, grant, or financial assistance you have received.
Applications must be submitted in one of the following ways:
– Post:
Bursary Coordinator
Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund
P O Box 3062
Cape Town
8000
– Hand delivery:
Mr. Shawn Africa
Bursary Co-ordinator
Attorneys Fidelity Fund
5th Floor Waalburg Building
28 Wale Street
Cape Town
8000
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this bursary program, please get in touch with the LPFF directly:
Contact Person: Shawn Africa (Bursary Co-Ordinator)
Tel: 021 424 4608
Email: shawn@fidfund.co.za
Good luck with your application!