LegalWise Bursary 2025-2026
About the LegalWise Bursary Provider:
LegalWise was founded in 1984 by Zak Crafford, a former Legal Aid employee. The company’s mission is to provide affordable, equal, and fair access to justice and legal assistance for South Africans. LegalWise offers assistance for criminal, civil, and labor-related cases, ensuring that individuals have access to their basic rights according to the law.
The company offers three membership options (Gold, GoldPlus, and Platinum), each providing varying levels of coverage for legal cases. LegalWise operates through 80 branches and employs between 500 and 1,000 staff members.
LegalWise provides clients with assistance in the form of face-to-face legal counseling, access to a panel of experienced and highly qualified attorneys, coverage for legal expenses if representation in court is required, 24-hour telephonic legal assistance, and email legal assistance during working hours.
About the LegalWise Bursary Program:
LegalWise is inviting students to apply for their bursary program for the 2025-2026 academic year. The bursary aims to support students both financially and with mentorship support to enable them to pursue studies in fields where LegalWise has a need for recruitment.
The bursary is open to LegalWise Members or children of Members pursuing the following qualifications:
- Accounting (BCom)
- Law (BA / BCom / LLB)
- Human Resource Management (BCom)
- Industrial Psychology (BCom)
- Information Science (BIS)
- Informatics (BCom / BSc)
- Management (BCom)
Expenses Covered by the LegalWise Bursary:
The LegalWise bursary provides partial coverage for study-related expenses, including:
- Annual registration fees
- Tuition fees (capped at R40,000 per year)
The bursary does not cover any outstanding student debt or failed subjects. The payment of the bursary award is dependent on the student achieving satisfactory academic results and submitting results and accounts to the Bursary Administrator on time.
Bursaries are renewable each year based on compliance with the Bursary Agreement T&Cs, satisfactory academic performance, and completion of vacation work.
Obligations and Selection for the LegalWise Bursary:
Bursary recipients must complete their studies within the minimum allocated number of years as specified by the University.
Recipients must also participate in paid vacation work at a LegalWise Branch close to them, totaling five weeks per year (two weeks during the June/July holidays and three weeks during the December holidays).
For students studying specific degrees (BCom degree programs, Informatics, and Information Science), participation in paid vacation work and service obligations at the LegalWise Roodepoort branch is required. Students are responsible for their travel and accommodation if not residing in the area.
Upon graduation, recipients must complete their in-house service obligation, with a duration of six months of paid service for each year of bursary funding received.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and required to attend an interview at their nearest LegalWise Branch.
Eligibility Requirements for the LegalWise Bursary:
Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria to be eligible for the LegalWise Bursary:
- 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 two years before application and must remain a Member for the entire duration of the bursary
- Completion of Matric
- Studying full-time toward one of the listed qualifications (part-time, distance, or correspondence students will not be funded)
- Entering the second year or higher of study in 2025-2026 (first-year students will not be funded)
- Studying at one of the approved tertiary institutes (specified universities)
- Minimum overall average of 60% or “C” symbol for the previous year of study
- Fluency in English and at least one other South African official language (speaking, reading, and writing)
- Possess qualities such as a positive attitude, determination, commitment, teamwork, initiative, good communication skills, and good interpersonal skills
How to Apply for the LegalWise Bursary:
- Download and complete the LegalWise Bursary Application Form 2025-2026.
- Submit clear copies of the required supporting documentation along with your completed application form. Ensure that all documents are certified copies. Original documents must not be submitted, as they will not be returned.
Application Submission Options:
- Email: helenf@legalwise.co.za
- Fax: 011 670 4557
- Post: External Bursary Department c/o LegalWise P O Box 1524 Florida 1709
- Hand-deliver your application to your nearest LegalWise branch. You can find your nearest branch on the LegalWise website.
Closing Date for the LegalWise Bursary:
The closing date for applications is 30 September at 17:00. Be sure to apply before this date to have your application considered.
Contact Information for the LegalWise Bursary Provider:
For any inquiries related to this bursary program, please contact LegalWise directly:
- Email: helenf@legalwise.co.za
