Law schools primarily award scholarships to attract excellent candidates. However, private scholarships are also available and can drastically minimize the amount of student loans you need to borrow, as well as assist you in finding a career after graduation.
Top Law School Scholarships
The American Bar Association’s Legal Opportunity Scholarship
Eligibility: First-year legal students from racial or ethnic minorities.
Award: $15,000 over three years for 10-20 students.
Criteria include financial necessity, community service engagement, and other considerations.
Deadline: May 1.
American Association of Justice Law Student Scholarships
Eligibility varies each grant; it covers minority and female students at various levels of their legal education.
Award amount: $3,000 to $5,000.
Deadline: May 15.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund Scholarship Program
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled at authorized four-year colleges.
Awards:
Herbert Lehman Scholarship: $2,000 per year for up to four years.
Earl Warren Scholarship: $10,000 annually for three years.
Deadlines: April 24 (Herbert Lehman Scholarship) and May 1 (Earl Warren Scholarship).
The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholarship
Eligibility: Law students interested in intellectual property law.
Award: $10,000 each year, renewable for up to three years.
Criteria include a demonstrated interest in intellectual property law, financial need, and good academic performance.
Deadline: April 1.
Rizio Liberty Lipinsky Lawyer Scholarship.
Eligibility: Any legal student in the United States.
The award amount is $10,000.
Criteria: Write an essay explaining why you want to work in law and how the scholarship will benefit you.
Deadline: May 1.
Judge John R. Brown’s Award
Eligibility: Any law student in the United States pursuing a JD or LLB degree.
Award: First Place $10,000; four more rewards of $1,000 to $5,000.
Criteria for submission include two copies of legal writing and a referral letter.
Deadline: June 3.
MCCA Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship.
Eligibility: First-year law students who intend to work in a law firm or corporate legal department.
The award amount is $10,000.
Criteria include full-time enrollment in an ABA-accredited law school and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2.
Deadline: July 2.
Arent Fox’s Diversity Scholarship
Eligibility: Second-year law students.
Award: $20,000 and a salaried summer associate position, with half awarded during the summer and half upon joining the firm after graduation.
Application: Contact a specific Arent Fox office.
Additional Tips:
Covering Law School Costs:
Federal loans are typically the best option due to their flexible repayment plans and opportunity for loan forgiveness.
Loan Forgiveness Programs: Beneficial for those in the public sector or with low-wage occupations.
Refinancing: Think about this option if you want to pursue a private sector employment with a high income potential.
Applying for scholarships:
Stay organized: Keep track of the deadlines and requirements for each scholarship.
Prepare strong applications. Concentrate on financial need, academic accomplishment, community involvement, and personal statements.
By looking into these scholarships and following the application guidelines, you can decrease the financial burden of law school while focusing on your legal career ambitions.