If you’re a law student looking for financial assistance to pursue your education, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 24 scholarships specifically designed for law students. From national programs to specialized opportunities, these scholarships provide a range of options for students at various stages of their legal education. Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student, these scholarships offer a chance to alleviate the financial burden of pursuing a career in law. So without further ado, let’s dive into the list of 24 Scholarships for Law Students.
Victoria Ovis Memorial Scholarship – $2,000
Offered by the First Responders Children’s Foundation, the Victoria Ovis Memorial Scholarship is a one-time $2,000 award open to the children of law enforcement officers who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Applicants must reside and attend school in New York State or the New York metropolitan area. The scholarship does not require a declared major, but preference will be given to eligible candidates majoring in criminology or pre-law.
Critical Language Scholarship – Most of the costs
Offered by the U.S. government, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad program that provides an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Under the program, students of diverse disciplines and majors study one of 15 languages – Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu – for 8-10 weeks. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate’s, bachelor’s) or graduate (master’s, doctoral, professional degree) level at the time of their application, and meet other criteria. The award amount covers most of the costs involved, including international and domestic travel, visa application fees, language instruction, room, board, program-sponsored travel within the host country, entrance fees for program activities, OPI language assessments, and U.S. academic credit issued through Bryn Mawr College.
Cobell Scholarship – Varies
Established as the result of the Cobell v. Salazar settlement, the Cobell Scholarship program offers annual, merit-based, and nonrenewable scholarships to students who are enrolled members of a U.S. Federally-recognized Tribe (or can prove ¼ descent from multiple tribes). To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in or plan to enroll in full-time study at a nationally, regionally, and industry-accredited nonprofit institution (public or private), be pursuing a vocational certificate or diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or professional degree, or certificate. While the Cobell Scholarship doesn’t set a minimum GPA requirement, a student should have the following GPA to be considered “competitive”: 3.5+ for graduate and professional students; 3.25+ higher for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students; and 2.0+ for vocational students. The program offers four awards, each with its own deadlines: Cobell Scholarship Academic Year (open December-March), Cobell Scholarship Summer (open February-May), Elouise Cobell Summer Research Fellowship (open September-January), and Cobell Scholarship Vocational (open year-round until funds exhausted).
Arthur Lockwood Beneventi Law Scholarship – $2,000
The Daughters of the American Revolution offers the Arthur Lockwood Beneventi Law Scholarship to strong students who are pursuing a degree in law at an accredited law school. The scholarship is a one-time award and is not automatically renewable. However, winners may reapply.
Helen B. and Lewis E. Goldstein Scholarship – Up to $10,000
Offered by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Helen B. and Lewis E. Goldstein Scholarship is annually awarded to Jewish students with financial need and academic merit. Applicants must be Jewish college-bound high school seniors or current undergraduate students who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university. Preference is given to those who are enrolled in a professional school such as a law school, business, or library/information science. Preference will also be given to immigrant students.
Navajo Nation Scholarship – Varies
The Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA) offers several scholarships to students who are members of the Navajo Nation to help them pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Financial Need-Based Award of $2,500 per term is offered to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. The No-Need-Based Award of $1,000 per term is offered to undergraduate students without considering financial need. The Chief Manuelito Scholarship of $3,500 per term is a merit-based scholarship for high-achieving high school graduates who meet a GPA and commensurate ACT score requirement, as well as undergraduate students who meet a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Part-Time Undergraduate Award is offered to part-time undergraduate students at varying amounts. The Graduate Award of $2,500 to $5,000 per term is for graduate students who are pursuing a master’s, doctorate, medical, law, or veterinary degree and meet minimum GPA requirements. The Part-Time Graduate Award is offered to part-time graduate students at varying amounts. Applications are open twice a year: March-June and September-November.
Pride Foundation Scholarship – Up to $12,000
Each year, the Pride Foundation offers scholarships to LGBTQ students who show leadership, lack a support system, demonstrate financial need, and face additional barriers to higher education. Applicants must be a resident of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington, but they may study elsewhere. Additionally, applicants must be pursuing postsecondary education at a community college, four-year public or private college or university, certificate-granting institution, vocational school, trade school, technical school, law school, medical/dental/veterinary school, or graduate school.
Mental Health System Reform Scholarship – $1,000
The Mental Health System Reform Scholarship is an annual prize awarded to students who are passionate about mental health reform. Applicants need to be enrolled in or enrolling as undergraduate, graduate, or law school students in the United States and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA.
American Atheists Student Activist Scholarships – $500-$1,000
American Atheists, an American atheist activist organization, offers several scholarships in the amount of $500 or $1,000 to atheist students at U.S. colleges and universities with documented histories of participating in activist causes. To qualify for the scholarship, students will need to submit relevant information about, and evidence of, their activism in the previous year, including student essays, photographs, letters, and testimonials from teachers, mentors, friends, or other activists. Applicants need not be U.S. citizens to be eligible but must attend U.S.-based institutions.
GRCF Miller Johnson West Michigan Diversity Law School Scholarship – $5,000
Administered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF), the Miller Johnson West Michigan Diversity Law School Scholarship is annually awarded to minority law students from the state. Applicants must be “students of color,” be accepted to or currently attending an accredited law school within the United States, be U.S. citizens, be permanent residents of Michigan, demonstrate financial need, and meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
GRCF Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Law School Scholarship – $5,000
Administered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF), the Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Law School Scholarship is annually awarded to minority law students with ties to Michigan. Applicants must be “students of color” who have been accepted to or are currently attending an accredited law school within the United States. Additionally, applicants must either be permanent residents of Michigan or attend law school in Michigan.
KASF Scholarships – $500-$5,000
The Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) offers scholarships to qualified Korean American students, including foreign students from Korea. Applicants must be a student with a Korean heritage studying in the United States regardless of citizenship status (including Korean Nationals) – if extra funds are available, other students (non-Korean) may qualify for some scholarships; be a high school student, an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student enrolled full-time during the scholarship application year; and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants must follow the specific requirements and instructions of the region where the applicant’s school is/will be located during the scholarship application year, as the type and amount of available scholarships may differ from region to region.
MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program – $2,000
MALDEF, a Latinx legal civil rights organization, offers an annual scholarship. The scholarship is open to all students who are enrolled full-time in an accredited U.S. law school. Applicants are evaluated for their academic and extracurricular achievements, for their background and financial need, and, most important, for their demonstrated commitment to advancing Latino civil rights in their careers. MALDEF does not ask about applicants’ immigration status or for a social security number.
LMJ Scholarship – $10,000
The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MMCA), an organization that promotes the hiring of diverse lawyers, offers the LMJ scholarship to women and diverse students who have been accepted to an ABA-accredited law school and have an interest in corporate law. The scholarship provides $10,000 for winning students’ first year in law school and provides financial support, guidance, and access to a professional network.
2L Diversity Scholarship – $50,000
International law firm Milbank offers the 2L Diversity Scholarship. This scholarship is offered to law students who are members of historically underrepresented groups in the legal profession. This includes students who are of a racial or ethnic minority group, are differently abled, or are from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the United States; be enrolled at an ABA accredited law school with an expected graduation date of spring 2025; possess outstanding academic achievement, leadership ability, and excellent writing and interpersonal skills; and show active involvement in the community. Recipients are given a paid summer internship position and granted a $50,000 scholarship, payable in installments.
Earl Warren Scholarship – $15,000 per year for up to 3 years
Each year, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), a legal organization fighting for racial justice, offers the Earl Warren Scholarship to rising law students who are committed to racial justice. The Earl Warren Scholarship awards are in the amount of $15,000 per year for three years (as long as scholars remain in good academic standing and continue to meet the scholarship’s eligibility criteria) for a total of $45,000. Additionally, Earl Warren scholars have the opportunity for an LDF internship, externship, or guided research project. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are entering their first or second year of full-time legal study at an accredited law school.
Han C. Choi Scholarship – $5,000
Offered by the NAPABA Law Foundation, the Han C. Choi Scholarship is annually awarded to law students who show an interest in Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) issues. Applicants must be year one or year two law students enrolled in an Association of American Law School (AALS)-accredited law school and “exhibit academic excellence, leadership, volunteerism, mentorship experience and demonstrate an interest in AAPI civic issues.” Special consideration is given to those who’ve survived cancer and/or have a family member who is a cancer survivor or victim.
NLF Scholarships – Up to $7,500
Each year, the NAPABA Law Foundation administers several scholarships for law students in the United States. Because the organization gets so many applicants, it also awards 8-10 NLF Scholarships and two Presidential Scholarships to students who didn’t receive the scholarship they originally applied for. Applicants must be law students enrolled in an Association of American Law School (AALS)-accredited law school.
SAIL Scholarship – $7,500 (over 2 years)
Offered by the NAPABA Law Foundation, the Sharon and Ivan Leadership (SAIL) Scholarship is annually awarded to first year law students going into their second year. Applicants must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited J.D. program in the United States and demonstrate a strong interest and a commitment to public service.
Rizio Liberty Lipinsky Lawyer Scholarship – $5,000
Each year the Rizio Lipinsky Law Firm awards scholarships to future attorneys. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and be current law school students or future students accepted for admission into law school.
Bridging the Dream Scholarship for Graduate Students – $10,000
In 2021, the Sallie Mae Fund partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to expand the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program for Graduate Students to help graduate and professional students from minority and other historically underserved communities reach their education goals. The program will award 30, $10,000 scholarships over three years to graduate students, totaling $300,000. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident, be a diverse candidate (including gender, disability, race, ethnicity, or belonging to an underserved community), be enrolled full-time or part-time at an accredited post-secondary institution graduate level program for during the 2022-2023 academic year, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and demonstrate leadership qualities and good moral character.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Varies
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is a nonprofit organization that exclusively supports the Black college community, with 98 percent of its awards going to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Each year, the organization awards nearly 500 scholarships to high-achieving students who plan to earn a baccalaureate, graduate or law degree from an accredited college or university. TMCF offers three types of scholarships: the Gap Completion Scholarship is meant to close the financial gap for students with urgent financial need, while the Access Scholarship and the Programmatic Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board for all “classifications” of students. Applicants need to complete just one TMCF profile, which they can use to apply for numerous awards. The eligibility criteria varies based on the scholarship.
AFSCME/UNCF Union Plus Scholars Program – $500-$4,000
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest trade union of public employees in the United States, offers a scholarship for current and retired participating members from the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, and their spouses and dependent children. Applicants are awarded based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor, and may attend a college, university, trade, or technical school.
Otto M. Stanfield Law Scholarship – Varies
The Otto M. Stanfield Law Scholarship is an award for Unitarian Universalist students pursuing careers in law. Applicants must have an active relationship with Unitarian Universalism, be entering or attending law school at the graduate level, and demonstrate financial need.
In conclusion, the journey to finding the perfect scholarship doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re just beginning your search or looking to expand your options, our comprehensive scholarship directory offers a wide range of opportunities catering to diverse academic interests and backgrounds. For a more personalized approach, consider leveraging the power of TUN AI, our innovative tool designed to match you with scholarships uniquely suited to your profile. Start exploring today and take a step closer to securing the financial support you need for your educational journey.