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Law School Scholarships
Attending law school is both intellectually difficult as well as financially challenging. Most full time students will not have the time to work while obtaining a law degree so scholarships are an important part of contributing to the tuition costs without adding onto student loans. Law school scholarships may be based on several factors but generally grade levels and test scores, demonstration of leadership, excellent written and spoken communication as well as financial need are the major factors considered in law school scholarships.
Depending on the type of scholarship there may be one larger lump sum scholarship or several smaller scholarships. In addition there are also different application procedures, cut off dates of application and requirements of each application. Some law school scholarships like the ones found at StraightForwardMedia.com are smaller, $500 scholarships which are open for applications four times per year. Other scholarships, such as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund are offered once a year but can be up to $7000. The MALDEF scholarships are specifically for those students that are planning to work within the Latino community and are in first, second or third year of an accredited law school within the United States.
Law schools generally offer their own scholarships which will be designed specifically for their programs. Usually these scholarships are renewable provided the law student maintains a certain minimum GPA, be able to demonstrate a financial need for support to complete their education and have some community or work experience. In some cases students with scholarships may also be required to complete specific classes or support community law initiatives through accepting the scholarship. One very prominent law school that offers scholarships on its website both for internal and outside scholarships is Yale Law School.
The American Bar Association offers scholarships up to $5000 per year per students. Students must apply for the scholarship before entering their first year. Details on the program can be found at the Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund. This site also lists several other scholarships including specialized scholarships for minorities and women entering into law school on a full or part time basis. Another law school scholarship program for minority students is the Foley & Lardner Minority Scholarship Program, with the award being up to $5000. This scholarship is restricted to minority students attending specified schools and is not open to other students attending non-recognized law programs.
The Federal Circuit Bar Association offers a series of scholarships for various academic and legal accomplishments. Some awards are designed specifically for women or minority students but many are open to any qualifying law student that meets all the criteria of the scholarship.
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