Law Scholarships

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How Do You Get Law School Scholarships?

To receive a law school scholarships, you need to be a new and first year (1L) law student in a Juris Doctor degree program. Many schools consider admitted students for merit scholarships while need based awards require you to fill out a FAFSA.

If you got this far, you likely took your LSATs already. The LSAT is accepted for admission purposes by many ABA accredited law schools. A high LSAT score may help you qualify for full funding for a three year Juris Doctor program. The highest possible score of the test is 180.

Schools generally use these scores as a metric for acceptance and the amount of scholarship money they offer you. As a college student, an impressive GPA plus high test scores may help you when it comes to getting graduate scholarships for law.

Once you earn your JD degree and pass the Bar Exam, one option may be to pursue a career at a law firm. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many lawyers today earn a median annual salary of $122,960 per year.

How To Apply for a Law Scholarship?

Besides your test scores, each scholarship program comes with a set of criteria to meet. These awards could be for women, minority groups and specific law majors. But in most cases are for U.S. citizens.

Eligible law school students who qualify have to fill out a scholarship application form. It is wise to follow the directions and apply by or before the application deadline.

Along with the form, you might need to supply transcripts, resume, and explain your goals. Some providers seek a very strong community service background too. If there is an essay, be clear and use the directions as a guide.

10 Scholarships for Law Students You Can Apply for in 2021

Are you wondering what scholarships are available for graduate students attending law school? You’re in luck because we have hundreds of law school awards. These awards may help you pay for law degree and reduce your school debt by the time you graduate. Check out these ten scholarships that you can apply for now!

  1. Anhelo Dream Project Scholarship
  2. Legal Opportunity Scholarship
  3. Earl Warren Scholarship
  4. Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship
  5. MALDEF Law School Scholarship
  6. Attorney Ken Nugent Legal Scholarship
  7. ABA Academic Merit Scholarship
  8. LimNexus Scholarship
  9. La Raza Foundation Scholarship
  10. Warner Norcross & Judd Law School and Paralegal Scholarship

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF LAW SCHOOL?

The cost of law school may vary depending on where you study. Tuition and fees differ across institutions and whether you are in state vs out of state. Additional college expenses such as housing, books, and transportation  contribute to the cost of law school.

According to the NCES, the average tuition cost of a graduate degree is $11,617 per yea at a public school. If you choose a private school, you are likely to pay more at $26,551 per year at a nonprofit college. The difference between tuition and fees at private schools and public schools is huge: around $14,900.

The NCES also found that 75% of students who completed a professional doctorate such as a law degree had student loans. They also report the average total loan balance was about $145,500 per borrower.

Are There Full Ride Scholarships to Law School? 

Full ride law scholarships are more common. These pay tuition and mandatory fees for all three years. Most schools make them available to first year students who may qualify. 

For example, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School awards full tuition through the Toll Public Interest Scholars program. You also a receive a stipend to fund unpaid public sector internships. Eligible scholars must be in good academic standing, commit to work in public interest and the community.  

Which Law Schools Offer Scholarships?

University of Chicago, New York University, and University of Virginia provide scholarships for admitted law students. Other major universities in the United States with Juris Doctor programs offer scholarships for graduate students studying law. Here are two prestigious law schools and their scholarships to check out.

University of Chicago

University of Chicago School of Law offers a Juris Doctor as well as a Joint JD /MBA program. In the first year of the JD, your courses may teach you about  contracts, torts, property, criminal law and civil procedures. As you get into the upper level courses, you may study equality, civil rights, health law and taxation. 

Every admitted student is automatically considered for scholarships. One to try for is the Tony Patiño Fellowship. Each year there are 1 to 2 Fellows, chosen on the basis of merit. Eligible students must exhibit leadership, academic success and initiative. Each recipient receives at least $10,000 per year for their studies and takes part in Fellowship events as a side benefit.

University of Virginia

University School of Law offers a JD that includes core courses in the first year. Second year law students focus on patent and administrative law, the federal courts and independent research. Year three is research focused and explores areas like trusts and estates. Students also have access to study abroad, dual degree options and externships. 

You may qualify for graduate scholarships as a new law student such as the Karsh Dillard Scholarships. A Karsh Dillard Scholar receives a sufficient amount to cover full tuition and fees for three years of their legal education. Awardee must be in good academic standing in order to receive the scholarship.

Do Law Schools Give Merit Scholarships?

Yes, some law schools give merit scholarships. University of Pennsylvania and UCL

A are some universities where you may receive merit based awards. Sometimes, there is no separate application and eligible graduates may be automatically considered when applying for admission. 

Many law schools look at your LSAT scores, undergraduate GPA, community service and school activities. The admissions office typically reviews eligible applicants for merit based aid. You may also request more financial aid based on admissions and scholarship offers from other schools.

University of Pennsylvania

Penn Law has a full time program leading to the JD. Penn Law also offers an LLM and other law graduate degrees. The JD course plan includes externships, pro bono duties, and senior research and writing project. 

To help those who qualify, the school offers merit scholarships such as the Dean’s Scholarship. These awards range from $9,000 to $120,000 in tuition coverage. In addition to academic achievements, eligible students must show leadership, service, and personal or work experience.

University of California Los Angeles

UCLA School of Law offers two distinct merit scholarships. These scholarship opportunities use criteria such as grades, LSAT scores and leadership. 

One is the the Distinguished Scholars Program. It is a binding merit based full tuition scholarship program. And, only for a few exceptionally qualified applicants.

Recipients of the award who are CA residents get full resident tuition and fees for three academic years. As long as they remain in good standing. Non CA residents will be awarded full non-resident tuition and fees for L 1. Then, full California resident tuition and fees for L 2 and 3.

Are There Scholarships for Minority Law Students?

Law school scholarships for minority law students and women help nurture diversity in the field. Such awards also provide valuable financial help to under served law graduate students towards their goals.

Doctorate degrees in legal professions and studies hold a 23% share of all degrees earned at this level. Recent NCES data shows a 50 /50 split in the number of men and women who attained law degrees. The numbers vary for various minority groups below.

  • Black – 23%
  • Hispanic – 33%
  • Asian – 13%
  • Pacific Islander – 24%
  • American Indian – 36%
  • Two or More Races – 26%

Law Scholarships for African American Students

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc is one provider of law scholarships for African American law students. NAACP is the legal organization that fights for racial justice through litigation, advocacy and public education. One of the programs they run is the Earl Warren Scholarship.

This is an annual award that goes to rising law students committed to racial justice. Eligible applicants tend to show potential as civil rights and public interest attorneys. To qualify, you must be a first or second year full time law student at an ABA accredited school.

Earl Warren Scholarship awards are $10,000 per year for three years or for a total of $30,000. Along with the award there are two opportunities for an LDF internship, externship, or guided research project and an invitation to LDF’s Civil Rights Training Institute.

African American law students might also find scholarships that are location specific. The James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation is one example. It provides 3 scholarships of $3,000 each to support minority law students at a few partner schools.

Scholarships for Hispanic Law Students

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) may be a good resource for Hispanic students. MALDEF supports law students who seek to further advance the civil rights of the Latino community in the United States.

In the past years, MALDEF awarded from 5 to 15 law school scholarships of $2,000 each to deserving Hispanic law students throughout the nation.

The program is open to eligible law students currently enrolled full time at an ABA accredited school. Other criteria they look at are grades, financial need and outside school activities. Above all, eligible applicant must show dedication to advancing Latino civil rights in their careers.

MCCA or the Minority Corporate Counsel Association offers law scholarships for Hispanic women. They offer the Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program. It helps law students pay for tuition, books and fees. Eligible fellows receive $10,000 a year for three years to help defray the cost of a JD degree. They also receive a one time award of $10,000 to assist with 1L expenses.

Law School Scholarships for Women

Female law students may find law school scholarships through the AAUW or American Association of University Women. They offer several fellowships and grants each year. 

BARBRI, a provider of legal exam prep courses, offers One Lawyer Can Change the World Scholarship. It is for eligible incoming first year law students for fall semester. To apply, you need to write an essay about “How you hope to use your law degree to change our world”. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 and $5,000 for second place. There are also 8 runners up who take away $1,000 each.

Law Scholarships for Immigrants and Children of Immigrants  

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program is an annual award. It honors immigrants and children of immigrants who are in pursuit of a graduate degree. This year, due to COVID 19 they’ve expanded their criteria to include online law degree programs too. 

To be eligible, you must be an eligible New American graduate student who is 30 years or younger by the application deadline. You may either be a naturalized US citizen, green card holder, adopted immigrant, DACA recipient, refugee and asylee. You must plan to start or continue in an eligible program full time in the United States. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years.

List of Law School Scholarships

Check out our list of scholarships for law school worth .

Avnet Law National Scholarship

Avnet Law is a Noblesville, Indiana law firm focusing on Personal Injury Law, Criminal Law, Family Law, and Business Litigation. This $1,000 scholarship is offered to support a community-minded college or graduate student whose has demonstrated a history of community service and involvement. Click here to learn more and apply today!

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: July 15, 2023

Sutliff & Stout Law School Scholarship Contest

Our firm is guided by the idea that all people are entitled to high-quality legal representation, regardless of wealth or social status. This idea requires that there are enough high-quality attorneys and legal professionals working in the field to support those who are in need of representation. In an effort to enable more students who have a passion for law to be able to pursue that passion, our Houston car accident attorneys are offering an annual scholarship contest which will award a law student with a $1,500 award to be put toward his or her law school costs.

Total: $1500

Awards: 1

Deadline: July 28, 2023

Christopher W. Keyser Undergraduate Scholarship

Keyser Law, P.A. created the Christopher W. Keyser Scholarship to provide financial support to students working towards a career in the legal field. Our law firm strives to positively change people’s lives by advocating for them during their most important and significant challenges. Great students will someday make great advocates, and we hope this scholarship program supports that endeavor. Students interested in applying for our schoalrship must meet certain criteria and submit an essay.

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: July 31, 2023

The Cyberbullying Awareness Scholarship

The Cyberbullying Awareness Scholarship is open to high school seniors planning to attend college, or anyone currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or law program at a college or university in the United States. Applicants should be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher.

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: August 31, 2023

Strong Roots Scholarship

Whether or not you have previously appeared in court for a criminal allegation, being charged with a crime is an immensely stressful experience. Even misdemeanor convictions can have serious repercussions in your personal and professional life, and any felony offense could land you in prison if you are dealt a guilty verdict. In order for a submission to be considered “complete,” all candidates must submit the following: An updated resumé that includes academic, professional, and volunteer experiences with a focus on community building. Candidates can feel free to highlight relevant coursework or experiences that might not be included in a typical resumé. This document must, however, be limited to actual experiences (that is, “interests” do not count as experiences). A 500-word essay that answers the following question: How is the meaning of the word “community” changing in today’s world, and what does that mean for people who wish to build strong, healthy communities? A current official academic transcript demonstrating that the candidate’s cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or greater. (Note: applicants who cannot provide an official transcript from their current institution may submit both an unofficial transcript from their current institution, as well as an official transcript from their last school.) The winner of the Strong Roots Scholarship will be announced in the Fall of 2023

Total: $500

Awards: 1

Deadline: August 31, 2023

Justin Magnuson Justice Reform Foundation Scholarship

The Justin Magnuson Justice Reform Foundation Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship initiative for U.S.-based university students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It was established by Justin Magnuson, the founder of the Justice Reform Foundation, an organization dedicated to reforming the U.S. criminal justice system. This scholarship is a reflection of Justin’s commitment to addressing the injustices within the criminal justice system, a commitment shaped by his own experience of being wrongly accused.

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: September 10, 2023

Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship

The Goostree Law Group gladly offers financial assistance to college and university students twice a year through our Bright Futures Scholarship. This award opportunity is provided to students with demonstrated financial need who exhibit leadership, determination, and passion in their academic studies and personal lives. The Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship provides one student each semester with the opportunity to receive $2,500. The award may be used toward the student’s educational expenses, including tuition and books.

Total: $2500

Awards: 1

Deadline: September 28, 2023

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Paralegal Scholarship

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. are committed to helping aspiring paralegals fund their educational goals. Applicants must meet the following criteria: Recipient is a U.S. citizen currently attending a paralegal education program within the United States. Student must have completed at least one semester of classes at a paralegal education program.

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: October 01, 2023

Fight Against Domestic Violence Scholarship

At John T. Fields & Associates, LLC, we have provided legal help to families in many different situations, including those involving domestic abuse or other forms of violence that affect spouses, children, and other family members. We understand the ways that domestic violence can impact victims, and we know how difficult it can be for a person to leave an abusive situation, seek help, and meet the ongoing needs of themselves and their children while maintaining protection against further abuse or harassment. Because of this, we work to provide opportunities for people who have been affected by domestic violence or who are looking to limit the impact of domestic violence on families in the United States. With the John T. Fields & Associates, LLC Fight Against Domestic Violence Scholarship, we provide financial assistance to college students, helping them achieve their goals and take steps to better our society. Each semester, we offer a $2,000 scholarship to a college student who has been impacted by domestic violence in their life or who has a substantial interest in implementing solutions to these issues and protecting others against domestic abuse, harassment, and other forms of family violence. To apply for our scholarship, please fill out the application form below and submit all required information by October 19, 2023. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected]

Total: $2000

Awards: 1

Deadline: October 19, 2023

DP Law Encouraging Diversity Scholarship

At The Law Offices of Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz & Bhaya we are passionate about serving the people of Delaware. Being an attorney means you have the power to make a difference in someone’s life. Whether that means easing their financial situation, helping them to spend more time with their children, or clearing their name of wrongdoing. How awesome is that? Many of us are passionate about the research, discussion, and debating that comes with being an attorney. This type of in-depth, critical thinking is something that inspired us to become attorneys in the first place. We love the thrill of being attorneys and the opportunity to give back to our community! If you think this may be the career for you, we want to hear from you. Our firm has decided to offer the Aspiring Attorney Scholarship to give back to students who are interested in practicing law! We hope that this $1,000 award will help lessen the financial burden of a passionate future attorney. We are interested in hearing what inspired you to become an attorney. What area of law are you specifically interested in practicing and why? And, why you think you would make a good lawyer. If you have participated in law-related extracurricular activities during your previous education, please also share that information with us! We understand the financial hurdles to becoming an attorney can be challenging and we hope to help ease that burden through this scholarship for one dedicated student.

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: October 31, 2023

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