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Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 09/20/23
Need help paying for law school? Use our comprehensive list of available law school scholarships to help you find the best scholarships suited for you!
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Let’s be frank; law school is expensive. A recent study by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division found that most graduates finished their J.D. with an average of $108,000 in debt. With a number that intimidating, you may be wondering if law school is even worth it.
But don’t give up hope just yet -- scholarships can help reduce student loans so you can begin your career with as little debt as possible. You can also look into other financial aid options for law school, and you may even discover that some full-ride scholarships are available to you!
Continue reading for a list of available law school scholarships and a brief FAQ section to answer some of your questions about scholarships. Let’s get started!
Here is a list of general law scholarships that are open to all eligible law students.
If you are a law student in good academic standing, you should consider applying for the Answering Legal Law Scholarship. Applicants will complete a 500-1000 word essay. Successful applicants will be awarded $5,000.
Applicants must be currently enrolled at an accredited law school (or have been accepted to law school as an incoming 1L) and must have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Along with your essay, you must submit your unofficial transcript (or your undergraduate transcript if you are an incoming 1L). Your essay may be written on one of the following prompts:
Those who intend to pursue social justice and advocacy after graduation should consider applying for the Rizio Lipinsky Law School Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial help to students who wish to advocate for their clients. To apply, you must write an essay detailing how you plan to use your degree to fight for justice. The successful applicant is awarded $5,000.
You are eligible if you have been accepted to an American law school or if you are a current law school student who will still be attending the upcoming year. You must be a U.S. citizen.
You must submit an essay of 1000 words or less on why you want to pursue law and how you plan to fight for justice. If you win, you must provide proof of enrollment in law school.
If you are entering your first year of law school, check out the One Lawyer Can Change the World Scholarship. The first-place winner is awarded $10,000, with the second-place winner receiving $5,000.
You must be an incoming 1L student starting in the fall to be eligible, and you must submit a 500-word essay.
The Blanch Law Firm Scholarship is open to all students. Applicants are assigned a topic in criminal justice that relates to State or Federal legal issues and will write an article from an outline given to them by the firm. The successful applicant will receive a $5,000 cash award and publication credit.
This scholarship is open to all students, and you may submit multiple articles. However, you may not write co-authored articles.
Your article must be a minimum of 2,500 words. Numbers, abbreviations, prepositions, and articles all count as words. Include a footnote with links to all sources you use.
Applications are accepted on a rolling deadline. You must submit your article no more than 14 days later from when you received the assignment.
The DDRB Lawyers Legal Scholarship is dedicated to helping students attending an accredited law school with their tuition costs. The scholarship is worth $1,500.
Applicants must be admitted or have an acceptance letter from an accredited school to be considered. You must also have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA. Pass/fail grades are also accepted depending on the school.
To apply, you must submit a complete application by the deadline. You must also write a 400-500 word essay on your legal career aspirations. Along with your essay, you need to submit your unofficial transcript and your resume.
The Law Office of George J. Skuros Justice in Family Law Scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates a desire to make positive change in family law and policy. The award is worth $1,000.
To be eligible, you must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or J.D. program at an American school. You must also be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old, and present a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
The Sugarman Law School Scholarship is available to two students enrolled in an accredited U.S. law school. The successful applicant will each receive $1,250 to help with their tuition costs.
You must be a current or admitted student at an accredited U.S. law program, and you must be in good academic standing. If you win, you may be required to send in your transcripts for verification.
You are also required to submit a 350-500 word essay on a lawyer’s duty to bring about change for the individual and the community. Preference may be given to applicants from or attending school in Greater Boston.
The Ottinger Employment Lawyer Scholarship is awarded to a student who is pursuing a law degree. Applicants must write a letter as to why they are qualified to receive the scholarship. The successful applicant will receive $1,500 to help with tuition expenses.
In order to be eligible, you need to be enrolled at an accredited law school. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be pursuing a law degree.
Along with your essay, you need to submit a copy of your transcript, your updated resume, and where you are attending law school. You’ll also need a letter of recommendation from someone who has helped you in your law career aspirations.
There are lots of scholarships specifically available to underserved students. See below for a list of scholarships for women.
The Mike Eidon Law Student Scholarship is available for female law students entering their third year of law school who demonstrate commitment to a trial lawyer career. The scholarship has a value of $5,000.
You must be an AAJ Law Student member and be enrolled in an ABA-approved law school to be eligible.
You will also need to complete an application package, which includes filling out an online form. You are also required to submit your resume, your law student verification form, and a letter detailing your trial lawyer career aspirations.
The Ms. JD Public Interest Scholarship is aimed at women who are pursuing careers in public interest. Applicants should be entering their second or third year of law school. They should be members of the Ms. JD online community and be planning to work 30 hours per week to complete their summer placement.
The Empowering Women in Law Scholarship is worth $1,500 and is open to young women hoping to attend law school. Contact the Pearce Law Firm for more information on applying.
You must be a high school senior in Pennsylvania seeking to obtain a law degree, and you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
You must submit two short essays about the challenges women face in the legal field and your role models. You also need to submit your official transcripts and your resume. Recommendation letters are accepted but not required.
The LMJ Scholarship is available to women in any accredited law school with good academic standing. The scholarships are awarded in the amount of $10,000.
To apply, you must be an incoming student. You’ll need to provide proof of acceptance into an ABA-approved U.S. law school and be enrolled in a full-time J.D. program. You also need a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2, and you must submit a FAFSA form.
The Sarita and Claire Wright Lucas Foundation Scholarship is available to African-American women who have an interest in becoming prosecutors. The scholarship is worth $5,000.
You must be a U.S. citizen who is graduating from law school and preparing to take the Bar Exam in Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, or Pennsylvania. You must also demonstrate financial need, a record of academic achievement, and a commitment to public service.
To apply, you need to submit two recommendation letters, your official transcript, your resume, and your photograph. You will also need to complete a scholarship essay, an online scholarship application form, a FAFSA form, and a publishing consent form.
There are various scholarships available to groups who have been underrepresented in both the academic and professional world of law. Here are some of the scholarships specifically for diverse students.
The Marshall-Motley Scholars Program is a scholarship to support African-American students who have an interest in becoming civil rights lawyers.
You must be admitted to an ABA-approved U.S. law school as an incoming, full-time student. For more information, contact the school directly.
The LGBT Public Interest Scholarship Program scholarship is available to LGBT law students or law students who will work closely with LGBT groups and individuals. One or more scholarships in the amount of $5,000 will be awarded.
You must be either a first-, second-, or third-year law student in good academic standing at an accredited law school, or you may be a recent graduate from a law school who is studying for the Bar Exam. You must also have secured a position, either an internship or a job, for the summer and/or fall with an organization that has a direct impact on LGBTQ individuals.
To apply, complete the online form and upload your current resume, your law school transcript, and two letters of recommendation. You also must submit a personal statement of 500 words or less.
The Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund aims to support and encourage racial and ethnic minority individuals to attend and complete law school. The scholarship awards $15,000 over three years to ten to twenty incoming law students.
You must be an incoming, first-year law student and a member of a racial and/or ethnic minority group. You must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and you must demonstrate admission to and plans to enroll at an accredited law school.
You must submit a personal statement, your transcript, 2-4 recommendation letters, and a signed release form which can be found within your online application.
Since 2015, the National Native American Bar Association has awarded scholarships to students who demonstrate a commitment to serving Native American communities. Applicants must fill out the application form to be considered.
Applicants must be Indigenous and an active member of either NNABA, the National Native American Law Students Association, or a regional American Indian Bar Association. You must also be a graduate or a current third-year student at an accredited law school and be planning to take the Bar Exam.
Along with your application, you will need to submit your law school transcript and your current resume. You also need to submit a personal statement of 300 words or less.
Named after the 14th Chief Justice of the United States, the Earl Warren scholarship is available to law students who are committed to achieving racial justice. The scholarship awards are $15,000 per year for three years, totaling $45,000.
You must be a U.S. citizen who is attending an accredited U.S. law school full-time.
You will need to submit academic records, your GRE or LSAT score, two letters of recommendation, and several personal essays. Contact the LDF for further information.
The Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program is awarded to graduate students from underserved communities who are facing financial hardships. The award of $10,000 will help students pay for tuition and other expenses. Successful applicants must demonstrate good moral character and strong leadership capabilities.
You must be a U.S. citizen who is enrolled either full- or part-time at an accredited school. You must also be a diverse candidate, which includes but is not limited to:
To apply, you must submit a video answering the question, “How will you leverage your degree and career to help advance social justice within your community?”
For students who have physical or mental disabilities, the Disabled Students Scholarship is available for financial assistance of $1,000.
To be considered, applicants must be U.S. citizens and provide proof of their disability. They must also be enrolled in an accredited school in the U.S. and have a minimum high school GPA of 2.8.
To apply, you can either write an essay or record a video explaining why you are a good candidate.
Scholarships can be hard to find, and it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Doing a thorough search on Google is the best way to find financial aid and scholarships for law school.
There are various types of scholarships, including awards based on:
Starting with umbrella labels for scholarships can be an effective way to find scholarships for which you would be a great candidate. Think of sports involvement, community service, and/or academic excellence when you begin your search.
You may want to consider doing relevant work experience for law schools to increase your opportunities and strengthen scholarship applications.
When searching, try to start as specific as you can. If you identify as a member of an underserved group, you can start there. For example, “legal scholarships for women in the United States” will narrow down the search results and make surveying potential scholarship options less overwhelming.
Once you have a good handle on the awards available for your specific demographic, you can do a broader search and apply to general scholarships open to all students.
Keep in mind that local and regional law firms may also offer scholarships for students. It’s not a bad idea to get in contact with law firms in your area to inquire about their opportunities for financial aid.
Don’t shy away from broadening your search to outside your area as well! Many law firms across the country will offer scholarships to students studying law at any accredited law school, even if you live outside of the State.
Here are some tips to make the scholarship application process easier:
Applying as early as you can will give you a higher chance of receiving a scholarship. This is especially true of scholarships with rolling deadlines. Schools only have a certain amount of money to grant students, so if you want to be sure your chances are as high as possible, apply as soon as you can.
Your scholarship applications need to be professional and error-free. Even if your essay is meaningful and poignant, you might miss out on a scholarship because of grammar or spelling mistakes. It’s a good idea to have someone look your essay over to catch any errors you may have missed.
Law school is challenging, and the last thing you want is to lose your scholarship because your grades have dropped. You’ll need to make sure you’re prepared for the demands of law school, and that means creating good study habits early in your academic career.
Another easy way to have your application dismissed is if you submit the wrong materials. It shows a lack of care and attention to detail.
Be sure to read the requirements thoroughly before you submit. Check, double-check, and triple-check that you’ve got everything right.
Now, you shouldn’t do this for every application. But if you’re applying to several scholarships with similar requirements and prompts, it’s okay to reuse parts of your essay. This will save you time and energy so that you can apply to as many scholarships as possible.
But make sure that you still tailor your essays to the specific requirements for each scholarship. Remember to proofread and catch any details that might seem out of place for your reader!
Keep reading to get some of your questions about scholarships for law school answered.
A good LSAT score depends on the institution and the scholarship, but aim for about 150 or higher.
According to U.S. News, Belmont University College of Law offers the highest amount of scholarships and tuition aid.
Yes, you can negotiate merit-based scholarships.
Some law schools may have a strict no-negotiation policy, while others may have certain conditions for negotiations. Admission committees are also more likely to negotiate if they think there is a high chance that you will enroll.
Yes, you can! Some scholarships even have a lower minimum GPA, although you should always strive to put your best foot forward academically.
You should start applying for scholarships six to eight months before the deadline. It’s a good idea to apply as early as possible and give yourself lots of time to complete the application.
High tuition and living costs can lead to student loans and debt that can take years to pay off. Fortunately, there are thousands of dollars available in scholarships that can help you throughout your education.
Begin with a simple Google search with umbrella terms (for example: “law scholarships for LGBT students”) to get you started. From there, you can start looking for more general scholarships aimed at any law student. Local, regional, and out-of-state law firms can be great resources for providing financial aid as well.
Good luck!
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