Law Bursaries in South Africa 2025-2026
Lawyers and advocates play a vital role in society by providing professional legal advice and representing clients in both civil and criminal court cases. Some lawyers even take on pro bono cases to help individuals who cannot afford legal fees. Pursuing a career in law requires significant dedication and commitment, both during studies and in practice. Despite being a competitive field, it is an exciting and rewarding career choice.
Career Paths in Law
Studying law can lead to various careers within the legal profession, such as:
- Attorney
- Advocate
- Jurist
- Paralegal
Difference Between a Lawyer and an Advocate
Attorneys
- Work Environment: Typically work at law firms.
- Responsibilities: Meeting with clients, drafting contracts, and providing legal advice.
- Client Interaction: Serve as the initial point of contact for legal advice or assistance.
Advocates
- Work Environment: Primarily operate in courtrooms.
- Responsibilities: Argue cases in front of a judge while wearing a robe, provide legal opinions, and draft legal documents within their specialization.
- Membership: Usually members of a “bar council” and must possess high-level judgment and representation skills.
Obtaining a Law Qualification
Proficiency in English is crucial for studying law due to the extensive reading, writing, and interpretation of legal texts required.
Educational Pathways:
- LLB Degree: A 4-year program.
- BCom or BA Law Degree + LLB: A 3-year undergraduate degree followed by a 2-year LLB degree.
Studying a BCom degree before an LLB can provide a strong foundation in accounting, business, and economics.
Lawyer Salaries
- Junior Lawyer/Attorney: Average salary of R180,000 per annum.
- Experienced Lawyer/Attorney: Average salary of R220,000 per annum.
Lawyers with skills in litigation, complex case management, contract negotiation, and legal compliance tend to earn higher salaries.
General Law Bursaries for 2025-2026
Applying for bursaries can provide financial support and resources to help you achieve your educational and career goals in law.
- Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship Bursary
- Baker Hughes Bursary
- Bheki Mlangeni Memorial Scholarship
- Black Management Forum (BMF) Bursary
- Bowmans Bursary
- Brand South Africa Bursary
- Bridgestone Bursary
- Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Bursary
- Calvin and Family Group (CFG) Bursary
- Canon Collins Trust and University of London Scholarships for Distance Learning
- Canon Collins Trust Joel Joffe Scholarship
- Canon Collins Trust Leigh Day Scholarship
- Canon Collins Sol Plaatje Scholarship
- Cape Winelands District Municipality Mayoral Bursary
- City of Cape Town Bursary
- Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Bursary
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary
- Dept of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (EC) Bursary
- Education Empowerment and Development Fund (EEDF) Bursary
- Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Bursary
- Emfuleni Local Municipality Bursary
- EP Bradlow Bursary at Stellenbosch University
- Fasken Martineau/ Bell Dewar Bursary
- FirstRand Foundation Trust Bursary
- Foskor Bursary
- Gallagher Foundation Scholarship
- Gama Attorneys Bursary
- Gauteng Dept of Roads and Transport Bursary
- Gauteng Provincial Treasury Bursary
- Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) Bursary
- Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) Bursary
- Hessequa Local Municipality Bursary
- HKA Bursary
- Hollywood Foundation Bursary
- Imperial Stellenbosch University Bursary
- Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Bursary
- Investec Bursary
- INSETA Bursary
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park Bursary
- Joe Morolong Assmang Bursary
- Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme
- KAS-SAIIA-Scholarship
- KwaDukuza Municipality Bursary
- KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport Bursary
- Land Bank Bursary
- Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund (LPFF) Bursary
- LegalWise Bursary
- Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) Bursary
- Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
- Megchem Bursary
- Mercedes-Benz Bursary
- Mitsubishi Power Africa Bursary
- Moses Kotane Institute Bursary
- Motsepe Foundation Bursary
- Mpumalanga Attorneys Council Bursary
- Mpumalanga Provincial Government Bursary
- NESP Scholarship
- North West Provincial Government Bursaries
- Norton Rose Fulbright Bursary
- NUMSA Bursary
- Oasis Bursary
- Pernod Ricard Bursary
- Pretune SIM Card Bursary
- Prince Albert Municipality Bursary
- Public Investment Corporation (PIC) Bursary
- Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS)
- Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) Bursary
- Roche Diagnostics Bursary
- Rio Tinto/ Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) Bursary
- Road Traffic Infringement Agency Bursary
- RSM Education Trust Bursary
- Santam Bursary
- SASSETA Bursary
- SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-cdt) Bursary
- South African Forestry Company Limited (SAFCOL) Bursary
- South African Journal on Human Rights (SAJHR) Bursary
- South African Reserve Bank Bursary
- Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Bursary
- Talksure Bursary
- TCTA (Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority) Bursary
- The Paul Mthimunye Bursary Fund
- Tim Mills Memorial Bursary
- TOTAL Bursary
- Toyota Tsusho Africa Bursary
- Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) Bursary
- UWC/ INSETA Bursary
- VKB Group Bursary
- Webber Wentzel Scholarship
