JASAN Foundation #Legacy500 Elite Scholarship Programme 2026/2027 for Nigerian Law Students

The Johnny Agim, SAN Foundation (JASAN Foundation) has opened applications for the third edition of its #Legacy500 Elite Sponsorship/Scholarship Programme and Essay Competition for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The programme provides tuition sponsorship for selected final-year law students and recent law graduates from recognised Federal and State universities in Nigeria who intend to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.

Beyond financial assistance, the initiative seeks to identify promising young legal professionals and support their development through structured mentorship, professional networking and exposure to experienced members of the legal profession.

As part of the selection process, applicants must submit an essay and a three-minute video presentation addressing the relationship between sponsorship, mentorship and the development of future Nigerian lawyers.

The scholarship application is open to eligible Nigerian applicants, and the deadline is 30 November 2026.

Scholarship Benefits

Successful applicants will receive:

1. Nigerian Law School Tuition Sponsorship

Selected beneficiaries will receive coverage of the tuition fees prescribed by the Nigerian Law School for the one-year Bar Part II programme.

This support is intended to reduce the financial burden of proceeding to the Nigerian Law School.

2. Professional Mentorship

Beneficiaries will have opportunities to receive mentorship from experienced legal practitioners and distinguished members of the Bar and Bench through the #Legacy500 Elite Mentorship Programme.

3. Professional Networking

Successful applicants will have opportunities to connect with senior legal practitioners, judges and other professionals within the legal sector.

4. Access to the #Legacy500 Network

Beneficiaries will have the opportunity to join the Foundation's wider network of young legal professionals and benefit from its long-term mentorship and professional development initiatives.

Important Funding Information

The scholarship covers Nigerian Law School tuition fees only.

It does not cover other expenses, including accommodation, feeding, transportation, personal expenses or other non-academic charges.

Applicants should make separate financial arrangements for costs outside the prescribed Nigerian Law School tuition fees.

Eligibility Requirements

The programme is open to Nigerian law students and recent law graduates who meet the following conditions:

Applicants must currently be 500-level/final-year law students at a recognised Federal or State university in Nigeria, or prospective Nigerian Law School candidates who graduated within the last 24 months.
Applicants must have a minimum academic standing of Second-Class Lower (2.2).
Applicants must provide evidence of their current CGPA or final academic result, as applicable.
Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement, leadership potential and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the legal profession.
Applicants must provide verifiable evidence of financial need.

The opportunity is specifically designed for Nigerian law students and recent graduates from recognised Federal and State universities.

Students from private universities are not included in the eligibility criteria published for this edition.

Essay Competition

As part of the application process, candidates must submit an essay addressing the following topic:

"From Opportunity to Impact: How Can Sponsorship and Structured Mentorship Develop the Next Generation of Lawyers in Nigeria?"

The essay must contain between 1,500 and 2,000 words. Bibliography and references are excluded from the word count.

Applicants are expected to examine how financial sponsorship can be combined with structured mentorship, professional exposure, skills development and measurable outcomes to support the next generation of Nigerian lawyers.

The Foundation encourages applicants to consider:

The role of financial sponsorship in improving access to legal education.
How structured mentorship can improve professional development.
The responsibilities of beneficiaries, mentors and sponsoring institutions.
The importance of professional exposure and practical skills development.
How scholarship and mentorship programmes can become more accessible, sustainable and accountable.
Practical recommendations for improving support systems for aspiring Nigerian lawyers.

Applicants should present clear arguments, relevant examples and practical recommendations rather than simply describing the importance of scholarships and mentorship.

Three-Minute Video Presentation

In addition to the written essay, applicants must prepare a three-minute video summarising and demonstrating their arguments on the essay topic.

The video must follow the IRAC framework, which stands for:

Issue: Identify the central problem or question being addressed.
Rule: Explain the relevant principles, ideas or framework guiding the discussion.
Application: Apply the identified principles to the Nigerian legal education and professional development context.
Conclusion: Present the key findings and recommendations.

The video must include an introduction, premise, argument and closing remark.

Applicants must publish their videos on Instagram, tag @_jasanfoundation and use the hashtag #Legacy500.

The video link must also be included in the formal application letter and the body of the application email.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must prepare the following documents:

Formal Application Letter

A one-page formal application letter addressed to:

The Nomination and Selection Committee JASAN Foundation Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.

Personal and Eligibility Statement

A one-page statement of not more than 500 words explaining the applicant's background, eligibility and relevant achievements.

Valid School or Faculty Identification Card

Applicants must provide a scanned copy of a valid school ID card and/or Faculty of Law identification card.

Evidence of Financial Need

Applicants must provide verifiable documentation demonstrating their financial circumstances and need for sponsorship.

Two Reference Letters

Applicants must submit two reference letters, each not exceeding one page.

One of the referees must be an academic from the applicant's university Law Faculty.

The scanned reference letters, eligibility documents and identification card should be submitted together as one continuous document titled "References", in accordance with the Foundation's instructions.

Essay

A written essay of 1,500–2,000 words addressing the official competition topic.

The essay must follow the prescribed formatting requirements.

Three-Minute Video

Applicants must publish their video presentation on Instagram, tag @_jasanfoundation and use #Legacy500.

The video link must be included in the application letter and the body of the email.

Document Formatting Requirements

The Foundation has provided specific formatting instructions for the application documents.

The formal application letter, personal and eligibility statement, and essay must be combined into one continuous document.

The document must:

Use Arial font.
Use 11-point font size.
Use black text.
Have double line spacing.
Include page numbering.

The combined document must be titled:

Application for the NLS Bar Part II 2026/2027 Scholarship

The reference letters and other supporting eligibility documents should be compiled separately as instructed.

Applicants should carefully follow the Foundation's document organisation and naming requirements to avoid incomplete submissions.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates should follow these steps:

Read the official JASAN Foundation announcement and application requirements.
Confirm that you meet the academic, graduation and financial-need requirements.
Prepare your formal application letter and personal and eligibility statement.
Obtain two reference letters, ensuring that one is from an academic in your Law Faculty.
Prepare verifiable evidence of financial need.
Write an essay of 1,500–2,000 words on the official competition topic.
Record a three-minute video presentation using the IRAC framework.
Publish the video on Instagram, tag @_jasanfoundation and use #Legacy500.
Combine the application letter, eligibility statement and essay into one properly formatted document.
Compile your reference letters and supporting identification documents as a separate file.
Send your application to the official email addresses below, including the video link in your application letter and email body.