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 .
Sheryl R. Rentz and her legal team operate out of our office in Montgomery County, PA to help clients resolve their legal family matters. For many years, we have handled cases involving all types of domestic relations issues, including alimony, annulment, bankruptcy, child custody and support, divorce, mediation, property division, and more. We also have the extensive knowledge and resources needed to take on high profile divorce cases, which generally involve a large amount of assets and sophisticated financial considerations.
At OVC, INC., we provide online marketing services for attorneys and law firms, helping them connect with the people who need their assistance. We value our relationships with the lawyers we serve, and we appreciate the dedication that goes into earning a law degree, establishing and growing a legal practice, and providing quality legal representation to people in need. With our “Market Yourself” Scholarship, we aim to support future lawyers in their pursuit of higher education.
The OVC, INC. “Market Yourself” Scholarship offers $1,000 to current or aspiring law students who can demonstrate a clear vision as to how they would position themselves to most effectively connect with the clients they want to serve. The award can be used for tuition and other educational expenses at the school they attend.
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.
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.
An overwhelming number of serious and fatal vehicular accidents are caused by distracted driving. Despite knowing better, drivers continue to reach for their phones while driving. Today, there are applications on our phones that can detect this and warn drivers that using the app while driving is dangerous. There are even some apps that will not allow cell phones to operate until the vehicle has come to a stop. Why is it that people feel an obligation to respond to notifications, text messages or phone calls while driving, even after knowing the risks?
As personal injury lawyers, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers is passionate about decreasing the number of distracted driving accidents. We see firsthand the effects that these accidents have on individuals and oftentimes how life-changing injuries sustained can be. In addition to working with those who have been in car accidents, this cause for awareness is very near and dear to our hearts as well. The firm’s founder, Jon Ostroff, is acquainted with the founder of End Distracted Driving, an organization whose mission is to save lives from distracted driving through advocacy, education, and action. It is our hope that we can all work together to make a significant impact on this generation’s outlook on distracted driving.
This is why Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers created the Done with Distracted Driving Scholarship. We wanted to hear from students about realistic ways we can work to put a stop to this dangerous behavior and habit.
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 scholarships@johntfieldsdivorceattorneys.com.
Veterans’ Disability Lawyers at Fight4Vets are thrilled to announce The Dependent Scholarship! As a firm dedicated to improving the lives of disabled veterans, we are happy to provide a scholarship to the community which encourages military members and their families to pursue their education.
The truth is, many harsh realities can come with serving in the military such as, being away from loved ones, physical injuries, and emotional harm, to name a few. However, the military has also provided some much-needed structure and support for individuals and their families. Often, people’s lives improve with the skills and relationships they gain from serving.
For this $1,000 scholarship, we would like to focus on the positive aspect of serving, and we ask students and veterans to analyze how their life enhanced because of the military. Students on active duty, their close family members, and veterans are invited to apply. Tell us about your experience related to the military or how growing up in a military family has positively affected your life.
The attorneys at the Berkowitz Hanna Malpractice and Injury Lawyers understand the challenges faced by disability, whether it is personal or not. Disabilities go beyond a medical definition and cause daily challenges in the life of many. We are excited to offer a $1,000 scholarship to help a student overcome a disability.
At Berkowitz Hanna Malpractice and Injury Lawyers, we have experienced how a disability could affect the daily life of someone. We understand that defining disabilities goes beyond a medical definition. We believe strongly in giving back to our community and do not want to see students give up on their dreams because of disability.
The Defining the Disability Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship available to students who meet the scholarship eligibility requirements below and who best describe in a 750-1,000 word essay what discusses how to define disability in the modern world versus its medical definition? While defining what disability means to you, explain how disability has been part of your life, whether it’s affected someone you know or has had a personal effect.
We are profoundly impacted physically and mentally by injuries, whether minor or severe. Injuries are another source of stress, especially for students trying to recover from their injuries while attending an academic institution. For this reason, Stolzenberg Cortelli LLC has created the Accident Relief Scholarship to help students who have been impacted by a traumatic accident.
The Accident Relief Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to help students recovering from injuries while attending higher education. Students are invited to share a story about an injury they received due to an auto accident, playing a sport, distracted driving, dangerous product, or any other way, and how it has affected their daily lives and education.
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.
