Legal Education Foundation

The foundation funds work across criminal justice, mental and physical health, poverty and hardship, homelessness, education and skills, employment, domestic abuse, disability, and ethnic minority communities. It supports a range of activities including project delivery, research, training, equipment, and events, as well as core costs and salaries. The foundation is particularly interested in organisations that use and shape the law to influence wider change, and that prioritise accountability to their communities. All funded work must take place in the UK. The foundation's two main grant programmes, the Emerging Justice fund and the Strengthening Justice fund, both support these areas, while the Justice First Fellowship specifically funds salaries for individuals training in social welfare law.

The foundation welcomes applications from registered charities, community interest companies, charitable incorporated organisations, community land trusts, unincorporated associations, trusts, community groups, and social enterprises. All applicant organisations must be based in the UK. The foundation prioritises organisations that demonstrate accountability to their communities and a commitment to using legal tools for social change. Individuals cannot apply for the main grant programmes, but the Justice First Fellowship is open to individuals with a demonstrable passion for access to justice and experience working with marginalised communities. The foundation does not have a religious restriction.

The foundation does not fund capital works, projects to develop or manage pro bono legal advice, awards, prizes or one-off events that are not part of a broader programme of support, or work that has already taken place. It also excludes projects where a grant would directly replace or subsidise government, legal profession or university funding, including the costs of law clinics. Statutory organisations are not eligible, nor is work that falls outside Charity Commission guidance on campaigning and political activity. The foundation does not support the promotion of religion or organisations whose approaches are not aligned with its values.

The foundation offers multi-year grants, typically for three to five years under its main programmes, and two-year fellowships under the Justice First Fellowship. It supports both core costs and project costs, including salaries. The foundation welcomes unsolicited applications and has a rolling application process with decision-making windows. It favours long-term, flexible partnerships that address root causes, and is particularly interested in organisations that use legal tools to create systemic change.