About Herbert Smith Freehills:
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is a globally recognized law firm that provides legal advice to some of the world’s largest and most ambitious organizations. With a team of over 3,500 lawyers and 2,000 business service professionals, HSF operates across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, and North America. The firm is known for delivering premium, full-service legal advice and is committed to creating a work environment that promotes high performance and tailored solutions for its clients. HSF has a strong global presence with 24 offices and a legacy of over 100 years as a leading corporate advisor in G20 nations, along with a track record of innovative legal operations.
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) Bursary South Africa 2025-2026:
HSF is offering bursaries to South African students who aspire to pursue a career in law. The bursary will provide financial support to two deserving South African students for their Postgraduate Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) in 2025-2026. Each bursary is valued at R40,000 (forty thousand rand) and includes an opportunity for the awardees to spend a week gaining hands-on work experience at HSF’s Johannesburg office in 2025-2026.
The bursary funds will be directly transferred to the awardees’ university to cover tuition fees for the 2025-2026 academic year only. Please note that this is a once-off award, and HSF will not cover bursaries for subsequent years of study through this program.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the Herbert Smith Freehills Bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be in their 3rd or final year of an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree (e.g., Commerce, Arts, or Social Sciences) with a major in Law and intend to register for a postgraduate Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) in 2025-2026.
- Students entering their penultimate year of an undergraduate LLB degree in 2025-2026 may also apply.
- The award is non-exclusive, meaning applicants receiving awards from other funders may still apply.
Award Criteria:
HSF will consider various factors when awarding the bursary, including:
- Academic performance.
- Passion for a career in law.
- Financial need.
- Compatibility with HSF’s values: Applicants’ character should align with the values upheld by HSF.
How to Apply:
Interested students can apply for the HSF bursary program by completing the online application form available at the following link: Herbert Smith Freehills Bursary Programme 2025-2026 Application
Selected candidates may be invited for a brief interview as part of the selection process.
Documents Required:
Applicants should prepare the following documents to submit with their application:
- Detailed CV/resume outlining educational background, experiences, and achievements.
- Official academic records from all universities attended or currently attending.
- Identification document.
- A personal statement (maximum 500 words) explaining their passion for pursuing a career in law and why they believe they deserve the bursary.
- Any additional details about interests, hobbies, unique skills, social responsibility endeavors, part-time work, etc., along with supporting documents such as job experiences, certificates, reference letters, etc., that strengthen the application.
Closing Date:
The application deadline for the HSF Bursary 2025-2026 is August 31.
Contact Details:
For inquiries about the HSF Bursary 2025-2026, students can contact the HSF Johannesburg office:
- Tel: +27 (0) 10 500 2600
- Fax: +27 (0) 11 327 6230
