DLA Piper Global Scholarship Programme 2026 | Fully Funded
DLA Piper hasn’t published a specific deadline for its 2026 Global Scholarship Programme intake, but based on the timing of previous cycles — the 2025 cohort’s window closed on 20 December 2024 — this year’s application period has most likely already closed by the time you’re reading this, with the next call expected to open for 2027 Fellows around November or December 2026.
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This is a genuinely substantial two-year commitment, not a one-off award: DLA Piper sponsors up to 50 law students annually, known as Fellows, from developing countries across Africa, South and West Asia, the South Pacific, and Latin America, and currently supports 50 Fellows drawn from 14 countries.
What sets this apart from a standard corporate scholarship is DLA Piper’s clear focus on development rather than recruitment. Fellows are not required to work for the firm after the programme; instead, it aims to develop future lawyers and leaders who can strengthen the rule of law in their communities, wherever their careers take them. This guide covers exactly who qualifies, what the two years of support actually include, and what to prepare now for the next opening.
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Why DLA Piper Runs This Programme
Understanding the motivation behind this scholarship changes how you should approach applying to it. Launched in 2017, the Global Scholarships Programme sits inside DLA Piper’s broader responsible business commitments, tied specifically to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on peace, justice, and strong institutions — the firm has been clear that stable commerce in emerging markets depends on a strict rule of law, and this scholarship is one concrete way it invests in that outcome.
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That framing matters for your application: reviewers aren’t simply looking for strong grades; they’re looking for candidates who show genuine intent to strengthen justice systems in their own communities, which is why the programme deliberately welcomes applicants from minority ethnic groups, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and other groups who’ve faced real barriers to legal education, rather than defaulting to the most conventionally credentialed applicants.
As a two-year commitment rather than a single grant, the programme also builds in continuity most scholarships don’t — Fellows stay connected to the same scholarship team and cohort throughout, rather than receiving a one-time award and losing contact afterwards.
DLA Piper Global Scholarship Programme Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | DLA Piper Global Programme |
| Host Country ⇒ | Various |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate and Master’s |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full tuition, internships, mentoring, devices, internet, and career development support |
| Funded by ⇒ | DLA Piper |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Developing countries across Africa, South and West Asia, the South Pacific, and Latin America |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Not officially specified for this cycle. Based on the previous cycle’s 20 December 2024 deadline, this year’s window has likely closed; the next call for 2027 Fellows is expected around November–December 2026 |
Everything the Programme Actually Funds
Because this runs two full years, the support is structured across several distinct categories rather than a single lump payment.
- Financial support: full university tuition for two years, all internship-related costs including transport, food, accommodation, and visas, payment for professional development courses or events, a laptop or phone with headphones, high-quality internet, study materials including textbooks and subscriptions, and support for business attire needed during internships
- Learning and development: Rosetta Stone language learning access, a week-long development course, structured help setting educational and career goals, CV writing support, personal branding and social media guidance, interview preparation, access to DLA Piper’s internal online training, internship placements at DLA Piper offices and with its clients, and a leadership course delivered in partnership with Saïd Business School at Oxford University
- Engagement: regular mentoring sessions, ongoing check-in meetings with the scholarship team, networking opportunities with practising lawyers and fellow Fellows, and guidance specifically aimed at postgraduate scholarship applications and further study
- Alumni network: active membership in the Global Scholarship Programme alumni community after completing the two years, alongside continued relationships with fellow Fellows and exposure to ongoing rule-of-law programming
The Oxford Saïd Business School leadership course is worth calling out specifically — it’s an unusually high-calibre addition to a scholarship of this kind, and it’s the sort of detail that’s easy to overlook amid the longer benefits list but genuinely differentiates this programme from comparable corporate scholarships.
Who Can Apply
- You must be studying law in your home country and be in your final or second-to-last year of study. Alternatively, you can qualify if you have completed your law degree and secured admission to a related Master’s programme in your home country.
- You need to be achieving, or be expected to achieve, a first-class result, or sit within the top ten per cent of your class
- You need a recommendation from your university, which can come from a lecturer, Head of Department, or Dean of Law
- You must be a citizen of the country you’re applying from — this isn’t open to international students studying away from their home country
- You need a good level of spoken and written English, since full participation in training, mentoring, and internships depends on it
- The programme actively welcomes applicants from ethnic minority and lower-income backgrounds, people with disabilities, and others who have faced barriers to education. These factors form part of the selection process rather than serving as a purely symbolic diversity statement.
Required Documents
Submitting an application for the DLA Piper Global Scholarship Programme requires assembling a concise, high-impact digital dossier. Because this fully funded initiative selects high-potential law students from across multiple continents, the review committee heavily weighs both academic rigor and your ability to articulate your legal ambitions clearly.
1. Academic Credentials & Institutional Endorsement
- Official Academic Transcript: You must upload a current transcript detailing your university grades for all law modules completed to date. Ensure the document clearly displays your institution’s name, your student details, and the grading scale.
- University Recommendation Letter: A formal letter of endorsement from an academic authority who can speak directly to your analytical abilities, legal aptitude, and character.
- Accepted Referees: A current/former law lecturer, your Head of Department (HOD), or the Dean of Law.
- Content Focus: The letter should go beyond confirming your attendance, providing specific examples of your academic engagement and potential as a future lawyer.
2. The Two-Minute Video Pitch
The 2-minute introduction video is a critical differentiator in this globally competitive selection process. It replaces a traditional written personal statement, serving as a direct test of your spoken advocacy, confidence, and authenticity.
- Core Prompt: Introduce yourself and explicitly explain why you chose to study law.
- Narrative Strategy: Avoid generic answers (e.g., “to help people” or “I like arguing”). Anchor your response in a specific personal catalyst, a specific area of legal interest, or a concrete vision for how you intend to use your legal education to drive impact.
- Production Standards: This component carries significant weight and should not be treated as a rushed, one-take afterthought. Ensure you record in a quiet, well-lit environment with clear audio. Dress professionally and speak directly to the camera.
3. Document Formatting & Upload Standards
- Approved File Types: All text-based documents must be uploaded strictly as Microsoft Word documents or PDFs.
- Best Practice: Converting your transcript and recommendation letter to PDF prior to upload is highly recommended to lock in formatting and prevent layout corruption when opened by reviewers on different operating systems.
How to Apply
- Visit the DLA Piper Global Scholarship Programme page
- Read through the programme details to be sure you meet all requirements
- Prepare your academic transcript
- Request a recommendation letter from your university
- Record your two-minute video introducing yourself and explaining your interest in law
- Upload all documents in the required format
- Submit your application through the official application portal
- Wait for the selection team to review your materials
- If shortlisted, you may be invited for further interviews or assessments
Getting Ready for the Next Cycle
Since this year’s window has likely already closed, use the coming months to prepare properly rather than waiting for an announcement. Line up your recommender now — a strong letter from someone who genuinely knows your academic work and character takes real time to arrange well, and leaving it until the window opens risks a rushed, generic reference.
Draft and redraft your two-minute video script before you ever hit record, since this is one of the few places in the process where DLA Piper hears directly from you rather than reading about you secondhand. Watch DLA Piper’s official careers and scholarship pages for the next Global Scholarship Programme announcement, expected around November or December 2026 based on the previous cycle’s timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DLA Piper Global Scholarship Programme still accepting applications right now?
DLA Piper hasn’t published an exact deadline for this cycle, but based on the previous cycle’s 20 December 2024 closing date, this year’s window has most likely already closed. Check DLA Piper’s official page directly to confirm the current status.
Do I need to already have a law degree to apply?
Not necessarily. You can apply as an undergraduate law student in your final or second-to-last year, or as someone who has already completed their law degree and been accepted into a related Master’s programme.
Is this a recruitment programme that obligates me to work for DLA Piper afterwards?
No. DLA Piper is explicit that this is not a recruitment tool. Fellows are supported to develop their careers in whatever direction they choose after completing the programme.
Can I apply if I’m studying outside my home country?
No. You must be a citizen of the country you’re applying from and studying within that same country. This isn’t open to students studying abroad.
How many Fellows does DLA Piper support each year?
Up to 50 students annually. The programme currently supports 50 Fellows from 14 countries across Africa, South and West Asia, the South Pacific, and Latin America.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, benefits, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Deadline information for the current cycle was not officially available at the time of writing and has been estimated based on previous cycles. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official DLA Piper Global Scholarship Programme page before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with DLA Piper.
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