knowing
is purpose.
It just takes one step.
WHAT WE OFFER
At Bowmans, our graduate recruitment team recognises the spark ignited by knowing your why – it is the catalyst that drives us too. As a pan-African purpose- and value-driven firm, with a reputation for excellence, our culture of collaboration is not simply about bringing people together, it is about multiplying their potential for the benefit of our clients.
We are the how to your why because we understand the value of knowing.
Through our graduate recruitment programme, we make a variety of graduate recruitment offerings at our respective offices to give graduates access to on-the-job training and mentorship; experience and exposure to various areas of law; and the ability to interact with our highly competent professionals. If you participate in one of our graduate recruitment programmes, you can develop your professional experience and form lasting relationships.
You are a graduate with purpose, and we are a firm with vision – aligned in our aim of giving those who place their trust in us the confidence to build a better tomorrow.
It only takes one step.
OUR PROGRAMMES
We provide graduate recruitment opportunities across our various offices. We offer a pupillage programme and a virtual experience programme in our Kenyan office; pupillage and internship programmes in our Mauritian office; articles for candidate legal practitioners, vacation work programmes, a virtual experience programme and a bursary programme in our South African offices; an internship programme in our Tanzanian office; and learner legal practitioners and vacation work programmes in our Zambian office. Detailed information is included below.
In Kenya, we offer pupillage and virtual experience programmes. In working with us, you will get access to:
- On-the-job training and mentorship from our specialist lawyers.
- The chance to work on top-quality legal matters.
- Our high-performance culture.
- Experience and exposure to various practice areas as a result of rotations.
- The ability to interact with our highly competent team.
Virtual Work Experience Programme
Our virtual experience programme enables you to participate in some of the tasks we would normally assign to students on site. This online self-paced programme requires no prior experience and is designed to grant you a sneak peek into the world of corporate law at Bowmans. There are five modules for you to work through. Complete all of them and move a step closer to identifying whether a career in corporate law is for you and possibly your preferred area of law. On completion, you will be awarded a certificate that you can add to your resume and social media profiles.
We look for lawyers aspiring to complete their training as Kenyan advocates - well-rounded people with a high level of academic achievement and commercial awareness. To be considered for a pupillage position, applicants must:
- have a KCSE Certificate (or equivalent) and be able to demonstrate strong academic achievement.
- have an LLB student qualification (upper second-class honours and above).
- be admitted to the Advocate Training Programme at the Kenya School of Law.
- be outgoing, curious, ambitious and commercially minded with a passion to succeed as a lawyer in a top law firm in Africa.
- 2026 Pupillage Applications
The application window for the 2026 intake has now closed.
The selection process, involving interviews and written assessments, is underway.
We look forward to welcoming a new batch of pupils and continuing our tradition of nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.
- Pupillage Programme
2027 Pupillage applications: we are now accepting applications. Apply by clicking here.
Submit your application by 31 March 2026. The selection process, including interviews and written assessments, will commence in May 2026.
We look forward to welcoming a new batch of pupils and continuing our tradition of nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.
- Virtual Work Experience Programme
Click here to create a profile and enrol to complete one (or more) of the activities on offer.
OUR PEOPLE
Shalin Ledwaba
Head of Talent Acquisition
PABALLO LETHALE
Graduate Development Manager
REATILE MOLEFE
Graduate Recruitment Consultant
Palesa Thulare
Graduate Administrator
In South Africa, we offer candidate legal practitioner articles, a vacation work programme, a virtual experience programme and a bursary programme. In working with us, you will get access to:
- On-the-job training and mentorship from our specialist lawyers.
- The chance to work on top-quality legal matters.
- Our high-performance culture.
- Experience and exposure to various practice areas as a result of rotations.
- The ability to interact with our highly competent team.
Candidate Legal Practitioner Articles
We offer a comprehensive two-year programme for you, as a candidate legal practitioner, to serve your articles with us. Participants are exposed to high-level corporate law under the guidance of industry leaders, coupled with countless training opportunities. We hire two years in advance, so it is important for you take the step of submitting an application early in your studies.
Bowmans Break Vacation Work Programme
Our Bowmans Break Vacation Work Programme provides an opportunity for you to meet us and get a glimpse of the day-to-day activities of a lawyer practising in a leading law firm. We accommodate a limited number of law students who apply to attend our week-long June/ July or November/ December vacation work programme.
Virtual Work Experience Programme
Our virtual experience programme enables you to participate in some of the tasks we would normally assign to students on site. This online self-paced programme requires no prior experience and is designed to grant you a sneak peek into the world of corporate law at Bowmans. There are five modules for you to work through. Complete all of them and move a step closer to identifying whether a career in corporate law is for you and possibly your preferred area of law. On completion, you will be awarded a certificate that you can add to your resume and social media profiles.
Bursary Programme
We offer bursaries to students with excellent matric results who are hoping to study law, and exceptional university students currently studying law.
We look for students studying towards B Com Law, BA Law or LLB degrees.
Our lawyers are team players. They are committed to excellence and deliver high-quality service. Most importantly, they possess a passion for the law. So, we look for well-rounded people with a high level of academic achievement and commercial awareness.
- Candidate Legal Practitioner Articles
Applications for candidate legal practitioner articles open each year on 1 July and close on 31 December for the following year or when the available positions have been filled. We fill the positions two years in advance.
2028 Candidate Legal Practitioner applications: click here.
- Bowmans Break Vacation Work Programme
Applications for our Winter Programme are open each year from 1 February and close on 30 April. Applications for our Summer Programme are open each year from 1 August to 31 October.
Winter Programme 2026: click here.
Summer Programme 2026: Coming soon.
- Virtual Experience Programme
Click here to create a profile and enrol to complete one (or more) of the activities on offer.
- Bursary Programme
Applications for our bursary programme are open each year from 1 August to 30 September. To qualify for the programme, you will need to:
-
- include a letter motivating why you need a bursary
- be accepted or studying at a public university (private institutions are not eligible)
- submit payslips for both parents, or an affidavit (if you are part of a single-parent household or if your parents are unemployed)
- provide a copy of your ID
- include your Grade 11 report (if you are in Matric) or your Matric Certificate or academic transcript (if you are in the first year of tertiary studies)
- have achieved a 70 % overall average mark
We only accept applications submitted online, click here.
OUR PEOPLE
Shalin Ledwaba
Head of Talent Acquisition
PABALLO LETHALE
Graduate Development Manager
REATILE MOLEFE
Graduate Recruitment Consultant
Palesa Thulare
Graduate Administrator
KENYA
MAURITIUS
SOUTH AFRICA
TANZANIA
ZAMBIA
In Kenya, we offer pupillage and virtual experience programmes. In working with us, you will get access to:
- On-the-job training and mentorship from our specialist lawyers.
- The chance to work on top-quality legal matters.
- Our high-performance culture.
- Experience and exposure to various practice areas as a result of rotations.
- The ability to interact with our highly competent team.
Virtual Work Experience Programme
Our virtual experience programme enables you to participate in some of the tasks we would normally assign to students on site. This online self-paced programme requires no prior experience and is designed to grant you a sneak peek into the world of corporate law at Bowmans. There are five modules for you to work through. Complete all of them and move a step closer to identifying whether a career in corporate law is for you and possibly your preferred area of law. On completion, you will be awarded a certificate that you can add to your resume and social media profiles.
We look for lawyers aspiring to complete their training as Kenyan advocates - well-rounded people with a high level of academic achievement and commercial awareness. To be considered for a pupillage position, applicants must:
- have a KCSE Certificate (or equivalent) and be able to demonstrate strong academic achievement.
- have an LLB student qualification (upper second-class honours and above).
- be admitted to the Advocate Training Programme at the Kenya School of Law.
- be outgoing, curious, ambitious and commercially minded with a passion to succeed as a lawyer in a top law firm in Africa.
- 2026 Pupillage Applications
The application window for the 2026 intake has now closed.
The selection process, involving interviews and written assessments, is underway.
We look forward to welcoming a new batch of pupils and continuing our tradition of nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.
- Pupillage Programme
2027 Pupillage applications: we are now accepting applications. Apply by clicking here.
Submit your application by 31 March 2026. The selection process, including interviews and written assessments, will commence in May 2026.
We look forward to welcoming a new batch of pupils and continuing our tradition of nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.
- Virtual Work Experience Programme
Click here to create a profile and enrol to complete one (or more) of the activities on offer.
OUR PEOPLE
Shalin Ledwaba
Head of Talent Acquisition
PABALLO LETHALE
Graduate Development Manager
REATILE MOLEFE
Graduate Recruitment Consultant
Palesa Thulare
Graduate Administrator
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