Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund (LPFF) Bursary
The Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund (LPFF) Bursary funds the final two years of LLB tuition for South African law students at public universities, with an additional postgraduate further-study stream for practising and candidate attorneys. It is offered by the LPFF, a statutory fund (formerly the Attorneys Fidelity Fund) that protects the public against theft of trust money by legal practitioners. The undergraduate award is open to students currently in their 2nd or 3rd year of an LLB - first-year students are not eligible.
Eligible Fields of Study
Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund (LPFF) (formerly the Attorneys Fidelity Fund; statutory fund established under the Legal Practice Act, administered in-house via the LPFF student portal) supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ South African citizen or South African permanent resident
- ✓ Undergraduate stream: enrolled in an LLB at a public South African university and currently in 2nd or 3rd year (first-year students are not eligible) - 2nd-years are funded for years 3 and 4, and 3rd-years for the final year
- ✓ Minimum academic standard: latest average marks must exceed 50%
- ✓ Demonstrated financial need and/or a strong academic record (preference given to high academic achievers in dire financial need)
- ✓ Postgraduate / further-study stream: a completed LLB degree and employment at a legal practice (not a state entity), as a practising or candidate attorney
What's Included
- ✓ Tuition fees for the final two years of an LLB degree (undergraduate stream)
- ✓ Postgraduate further-study / LLM-type awards for practising or candidate attorneys at a South African university (further-study stream)
- ✓ Undergraduate funding is tenable for up to two years, subject to continued eligibility
Work Commitment
No formal work-back service contract is specified. The postgraduate further-study stream requires applicants to already be employed at a legal practice (as a practising or candidate attorney) rather than a state entity.
How to Apply
Steps to complete your Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund (LPFF) (formerly the Attorneys Fidelity Fund; statutory fund established under the Legal Practice Act, administered in-house via the LPFF student portal) bursary application
- 1
Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria (SA citizen/permanent resident, enrolled in an LLB at a public SA university in 2nd or 3rd year, with a latest average above 50%)
- 2
Register and create a profile on the LPFF student portal at studentportal.fidfund.co.za
- 3
Complete the online bursary application form within the portal
- 4
Upload all required supporting documents in the portal
- 5
Submit the application online before the closing date - applications open 1 April and close 15 August (midnight) annually; the 2026/2027 cycle closed on 15 August 2025
- 6
Direct bursary queries to [email protected], or contact the ICT helpdesk ([email protected]) for portal/technical issues
Required Documents
- 📄 Certified copy of South African ID (or proof of permanent residence)
- 📄 Latest academic results / transcript showing an average above 50%
- 📄 Proof of registration at a public South African university for an LLB
- 📄 Proof of household income / documentation demonstrating financial need
- 📄 Motivational letter
- 📄 Postgraduate stream: completed LLB qualification and proof of employment at a legal practice
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can apply for the LPFF Bursary?
- South African citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an LLB at a public South African university who are currently in their 2nd or 3rd year, with a latest average above 50% and demonstrated financial need. First-year students are not eligible. A separate further-study stream is open to practising or candidate attorneys who have completed an LLB and are employed at a legal practice.
- What does the bursary cover?
- It covers tuition fees only. For undergraduates it funds the final two years of the LLB (2nd-years are funded for years 3 and 4, and 3rd-years for the final year). The exact amount is set annually by the Fund and approved by the Minister of Justice.
- When does the LPFF Bursary close?
- Applications open on 1 April and close on 15 August (midnight) each year. For the 2026/2027 cycle the closing date was 15 August 2025. Applications are made strictly online through the LPFF student portal.
- How do I apply?
- Applications are submitted online only via the LPFF student portal at studentportal.fidfund.co.za. Register a profile, complete the form, upload your documents and submit before the deadline. For bursary queries email [email protected].
Ready to apply?
Applications close on 15 August 2025
Apply on Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund (LPFF) (formerly the Attorneys Fidelity Fund; statutory fund established under the Legal Practice Act, administered in-house via the LPFF student portal)'s official siteNeed help? Contact Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund (LPFF) (formerly the Attorneys Fidelity Fund; statutory fund established under the Legal Practice Act, administered in-house via the LPFF student portal):
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 021 424 5351 (also 021 424 4608)
Information verified 2026-06-22. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
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