If you would like to apply for a grant from The Legal Education Foundation, please start by reading our Funding Programmes, How we Prioritise Applications and Eligibility and Exclusions pages.

If you are not sure whether it is worthwhile making an application please use the Contact Us form to raise any questions or request a discussion.

Webinar

In January 2024, we hosted a webinar and Q&A for organisations interested in applying to the LEF as part of our Spring 2024 open grants round.

The webinar introduced the LEF and our Stronger Sector and Fairer Systems grants programmes. We shared information on our objectives and what we fund, and what we consider in the decision-making process. We also covered other helpful information like the application process itself, eligibility criteria, timeframes, and data insights based on our more recent grants rounds. The webinar was recorded and is available to watch below or on YouTube. If you require captions, you can turn these on at the bottom right of the YouTube video.

You can also find a transcript of the webinar here.

First Stage

If you are confident that your organisation and proposed work are eligible for funding, you can make an application using our online form. It asks a few short questions about your organisation and the proposed work, including an estimate of how much funding you would like from the LEF.

You will need to complete and submit this application form online. You will receive an automated acknowledgement of your application.

We have two application deadlines per year (see full details on our timetable). All the applications submitted to each deadline will be considered at the same time and collectively by the LEF team, to arrive at a shortlist of organisations which meet our criteria. As part of this process, LEF staff may contact you for further information.

You will hear within four weeks whether your application has been turned down at this stage or can go forward to the next stage.

Second Stage

If you are invited to make a full application, you will be sent a personalised link to a second stage form. This will be pre-populated with the information you provided at first stage, which you will have the opportunity to edit or expand. The form includes additional questions about your organisation and the proposed work. At this stage, we also ask for more financial information including a budget for the proposed work and your organisation’s budget for the current year.

You will have approximately one month to complete this application form, but please let us know if you are having difficulty meeting the deadline. As in the first stage, this second stage application form also needs to be completed and submitted online.

As part of the second stage process, LEF staff will arrange a time to discuss the application with the key staff who will be involved in the proposed work. This may involve a visit to your premises, a meeting at our offices, or a telephone or video call.

Decisions

All second stage applications are submitted in full for consideration by our Grants, Programmes & Learning Committee. This Committee makes decisions on applications for up to £350,000.

If you have applied for more than £350,000, the Committee will make a recommendation to the full Board for decision.

The timetable for decisions can be found here.