Lawyers for Economic Advancement and Development

Lex:lead is a group of international lawyers and friends who support economic development focusing on the world's least developed countries.  We offer an annual essay competition on topics of law and development to students from eligible countries for one-time US$500 awards. In 2015 we also started placing our students in internships with the World Bank and partners and in 2018 we began offering mentoring to our winners. Launched with funding from the International Bar Association Foundation, Lex:lead is a partner to the World Bank-supported Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development. Register over!

Lex:lead President/Founder Anne Bodley with scholarship winners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 2014 (L-R Hilina Berhanu Degefa, Rediet Zegeye Yigezu, Anne, Lemlem Fiseha Minale, Redeat Kassahun Seifu).

Lex:lead in Zambia: Co-founder Rudy Ezeani with Advisory Board Member Sabine Midderhoff and winners in Lusaka Zambia September 2018 (Back L-R: Milan Dipakkumar Desai; Paul Moono; Lumela Lumela; Front L-R: Muchinda Muma; Nsofwa Puta; Chileke Sakala; Nkandu Kunda Chota; Chitalu Yalobi).

1. 83 awards made (nearly US$50,000) across eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Americas. Aiming at 100 awards by Year 10.

2. Launched in 2010 with funding from the International Bar Association Foundation; second and third grants in 2012 and 2016. Sponsorships: Allen & Overy, Linklaters, the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, DLA Piper, Law Council of Australia, others.

3. Internships funded with the World Bank, GiZ, Center for Water Security and Cooperation, Landesa, others.

4. Mentoring program launched 2018 to further support our students and countries of operation.

5. Intellectual partner to the World Bank-supported Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development (since July 2012).

We are open to the world's least developed countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas as reassessed regularly by the United Nations. Eligible students must show both citizenship and enrollment in one of the countries below.