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 $135,740 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 2024
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!
Anhelo Dream Project Scholarship
Legal Opportunity Scholarship
Earl Warren Scholarship
Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship
MALDEF Law School Scholarship
Attorney Ken Nugent Legal Scholarship
ABA Academic Merit Scholarship
LimNexus Scholarship
La Raza Foundation Scholarship
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 .
The Chicago family law firm NextLevel Law believes in making a positive impact in its community. Founding attorney Daniel R. Hernandez built his legal practice on the values of accessibility, integrity, respect, and transparency. NextLevel Law brings justice to our clients and makes high quality legal services accessible to all members of the communities we serve.
Attorney Hernandez and his legal team also believe in accessible education. Through the NextLevel Student Scholarship, NextLevel Law hopes to make higher education more accessible to college students who demonstrate academic excellence.
The $1,000 NextLevel Student Scholarship is available to students each semester who are pursuing a career in law, compliance, or public policy.
Students may contact our team via email at [email protected].
The accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant is proud to announce the availability of a $2,500 scholarship to be awarded to a student who has been accepted to or is currently enrolled in an ABA- or AALS-accredited law school.
We believe that attorneys can be agents of change and advocates for those who deserve a voice. We’ve centered our practice around this philosophy, and we’re hopeful that tomorrow’s lawyers will continue this mission.
At Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys, we fiercely advocate for victims of personal injuries across the state of Texas from our headquarters in San Antonio. While contending with giant insurance companies and corporations, we strive to provide compassionate and intelligent service to each of our clients. In short, we treat each case like it is our only case.
Our team spends nights and weekends working to obtain just outcomes for our clients, and we have a deep appreciation for dedication, determination, and hard work. Through our Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys Students in Need Scholarship, we aim to promote those ideals by supporting students who have overcome obstacles and demonstrated a need for financial assistance.
Therefore, we award scholarships of $2,000 in the Fall and Spring semesters to qualified students interested in a career in law who can demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
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
To advance the goals of diversity and inclusion within the legal profession, Modrall Sperling has established the Max J. Madrid Law Diversity Scholarship. The scholarship provides tuition assistance toward an awardee’s second or third year of law school. Persons in their first or second year of law school may apply if they are from a diverse background that historically has been underrepresented within the legal profession. Modrall Sperling is dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces differences, promotes equality, and engenders mutual respect and inclusion where everyone has the opportunity to excel.
To be eligible for the Max J. Madrid Law Diversity Scholarship, applicants must: demonstrate strong academic achievement in college and, if applicable, in the first year of law school; demonstrate leadership qualities with employment and/or community service experience; demonstrate excellence in research and communication skills, including written and oral; make a compelling statement of the applicant’s desire and the ability to overcome obstacles; attend an ABA-accredited law school; and plan to practice law in the state of New Mexico.
Our team at Burress Injury Law is passionate about helping the “underdogs.” We represent victims who have suffered serious injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. Specifically, we help our clients persevere in the face of adversity to receive the medical treatment they need and recover all of the compensation they are owed under the law for their losses and damages. With our Underdog Scholarships, we aim to support prospective applicants who have persevered in the face of adversity and who want to use their life experiences to help others.
The Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship fund provides $20,000 annually, with one $5,000 award and two $2,500 awards offered for each of the Spring and Fall semesters. Our scholarships are open to applications from undergraduate students throughout the United States, and the awards can be applied to tuition and other educational expenses at each recipient’s school. We are currently accepting applications for our 3 scholarships for the fall semester.
The Foray Firm Houston, we base our practice on two principles:
We handle matters of family law with as much concern for the family as for the law.
We stand up for the rights of all types of families, including African American, Spanish-speaking, multinational, and LGBTQ families
To be considered for The Foray Firm Black Law Student Scholarship, students must submit a video of no more than 5 minutes discussing one of the prompts provided on the scholarship webpage. Applicants must also include their contact information, unofficial transcript, proof of eligibility, and a professional headshot.
As a whistleblower and qui tam lawyer, Attorney Bill Nettles understands the importance of speaking up when one sees injustice or wrongdoing. Sometimes, speaking up can be difficult or scary. However, if it often rewarding and worth the risks. For this scholarship, students are asked to discuss a time when they spoke up against injustice, and what resulted from them doing so.
The candidate must submit a 750-1,000 word essay response to the prompt: The candidate must submit a 750-1,000 word essay response to the prompt: Describe a time when you spoke up against injustice you witnessed and what resulted from speaking up.
The candidate must submit a professional resumé that lists their experience, both professional and academic.
The candidate must submit a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or individuals who have recently transferred schools may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school, as well as the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school students must also submit proof of acceptance to their college or university.
The recipient of the See Something Say Something Scholarship will be chosen during the month following the scholarship deadline.
Hoffer & Sheremet, PLC, is a law firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. We focus on medical and legal malpractice cases and other litigation.
Three (3) students will be chosen to win $500 each (one student per essay topic). Deadline is April 15th. Must be undergraduate/planning to attend college.
Please choose ONE of the three listed topics to write about in an essay:
– What are the pros and cons of our civil justice system, and what is one thing that could be improved within that system?
– Why is it important to have great writing skills?
– What is the strongest thing you have ever had to do / what is an adversity you have had to overcome?
Guidelines:
– Please only submit ONE essay in your application.
– There is no word limit/minimum, but ensure you have thoroughly yet succinctly expressed your point.
– By submitting your application, you are allowing Hoffer & Sheremet permission to publicly share your work (with credit given) upon acceptance of the scholarship award.
Prevention is the best cure, no matter what you’re talking about. Not drinking will decrease your chance of causing a drunk-driving accident by a perfect 100 percent! Putting your phone away and paying attention to the road will save lives and prevent serious injuries…the kind we have to go to court for nearly every week.
At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we try to stop accidents before they happen. That’s why we launched our “”Texts=Wrecks”” campaign in 2018 – to save lives. But we need your help!We strongly believe that the next generation is a great one, and that you will be leaders in changing the way America drives. So we want to hear your best ideas – including things you’ve already tried that have worked – to help yourself, your family members, and your friends drive more safely. For inspiration, check out our previous winners.
We are offering a $1,000 scholarship for one deserving Virginia high school student who will graduate by June 2023, or a college student anywhere in the United States who graduated from a Virginia high school. We strongly believe the next generation is a great one, and we can’t wait to see what they plan to do with their lives.
