Joel Joffe LLB scholarships at the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Western Cape

These scholarships are offered in memory of Joel Joffe, who was Nelson Mandela’s lawyer in the 1963/4 Rivonia Trial. He played a crucial role in the struggle for democracy in South Africa. The Trust continues to build on his legacy, inspiring others to do as much as possible to realise human rights and reduce poverty.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete their internship at either the Equal Education Law Centre or the Legal Resources Centre.

Study the application guidelines here.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Prohibited

All application materials must be entirely the applicant’s original work.

Using artificial intelligence tools (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Bard, or similar software) to generate, edit, or assist with any part of the application is strictly prohibited.

Any application that includes content created or modified with the help of AI will be immediately disqualified and rejected without further consideration.

Are you eligible?

Applicants must be:

• a national of, and normally resident in, South Africa
• in possession of a strong academic record and extra-curricular involvement
• a current undergraduate 3rd year student of Law at the University of the Western Cape or the University of Fort Hare, completing the LLB coursework no later than December 2026

Please apply only if you are eligible and meet ALL of the above criteria.

What we offer

The Joel Joffe scholarship includes:

• R40,000 towards the last year of your LLB study
• a paid internship at Equal Education Law Centre or Legal Resources Centre after the completion of LLB study
• an opportunity to enhance your academic and leadership skills through organised events

We support both full and part-time study and will consider applications from those who wish to study by distance learning.

We also organise an annual conference for current scholars, and hold several smaller events throughout the year. Scholarship holders are expected to participate in these activities and to become part of and contribute to our network.

How to apply

Canon Collins Trust LLB Joel Joffe Scholarship is now open for applications.

Applications open on 4 August 2025 and close on 2 September 2025 at 17:00 (South African time).

We strongly recommend that you start and submit your application well before the deadline. The portal often experiences high traffic as the deadline approaches, which can lead to technical issues or failed submissions. Please don’t leave it to the last minute.

Please follow us on social media @canoncollinstrust and subscribe to the Scholarship Alert for helpful guides to hack your application.

Please do not email us to ask about the outcome of your application. All notifications will be by email so please make sure you provide an accurate email address.