How to Find Law School Scholarships

While preparing for your law school application, you might have asked yourself, “Do law schools accept scholarships?” The short answer to this is: yes, there are different law school scholarships available to help you finance your journey towards that much-coveted law degree.

When looking for a law school scholarship, assess yourself and see which types of scholarships you should be looking for. There is a wide range of law school scholarships available depending on your need, background, and academic track record. Learn about the different scholarship programs available and use this post to narrow down your options!

Where can I find law school scholarships for underrepresented minority (URM) students?

There are different scholarship programs designed specifically for underrepresented minority (URM) students. Additionally, a wide range of law school scholarships for minorities, women, Pacific Islanders, and members of the LGBTQ community is available. There are also scholarships for people with hearing loss.

When coming from a diverse background, it’s good to have a list of known scholarship programs for URM law students. Each program will have different sets of requirements and conditions, so check whether you qualify for the scholarship program first before applying.

Here are some scholarship programs available for URM students:

Aside from the eight listed scholarship programs, there are still a lot of grant programs you can find by doing your research, reaching out to networks, and finding the right organizations who can support you.

How do I find law school scholarships in general?

When finding law school scholarships, utilize what you already have. This includes using law school databases available online to help you narrow down the grant programs you’re interested in. Use the internet, your network, and all the resources you can find to discover all the scholarship programs available for you.

When you start searching for the best scholarship program for you, a quick Google research will lead you to databases of potential law school scholarships like the two shown below.

• DiscoverLaw.org is run by the Law School Admissions Council and is always getting updated. The LSAC also offers different support for aspiring law school students.
• Admissions Dean is a great, searchable database with hundreds of scholarship opportunities. Its filtering tool makes it easier for you to narrow down the scholarship programs that best suit you.
• The American Bar Association’s website also compiles a wide range of scholarship programs you can apply to. It’s important to also check their database of grants for law students.

You can also find law school scholarships on the pages of any law school in the country. When applying for university-funded scholarship programs, keep in mind important deadlines and expect competition among fellow aspiring scholars for these universities. For example, Yale and Northwestern, offer amazing scholarships for their law students.

Here are some tips to remember when looking for scholarship programs using this approach:

• List down your target law schools and head over to their scholarship programs.
• Create a personal system to help you track down important deadlines and requirements for each scholarship grant.
• Apply strategically and aim for scholarship programs that give you a higher chance of receiving the financial aid you need.

If you’re also currently affiliated with different organizations, reach out to them and see if there are scholarships or financial assistance available for post-graduate or law school students within the organization. This makes your chances of getting accepted higher as well!

Going through the extensive list of scholarship programs available, it’s important to strategically narrow down your options based on your background, academic achievements, and your contribution to your community. Here’s a bonus for you: we’ve summarized ten full-ride law scholarships being offered by top universities.

What kinds of law school scholarships are available?

There is a wide range of law school scholarships available and you can group them into five categories: need-based, merit-based, criteria-based, endowments, and local scholarships. This means that aside from law school scholarships for minorities, you still have a lot of programs to check and review.

Need-Based

Need-based law school scholarships are granted to those in need of financial assistance. Each law school may have different requirements – this includes submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and your desired law school’s financial application form.

Merit-Based

When applying for merit-based law school scholarships, prepare your LSAT score and your undergrad GPA score. Yes, from its name, merit-based scholarships will be based on your academic achievements. There are law schools that will also take your employment experience and extracurricular activities into consideration.

The good thing about merit-based scholarship programs is that you can apply for them as upper-class law students. Aside from law schools, law firms and organizations also offer merit-based scholarships. Utilize the databases to find which law organizations are available for you!

Criteria-Based

Criteria-based scholarship programs grant financial aid to students who meet a certain set of guidelines required by a law school, organization, or firm. Here are some criteria normally required by organizations that offer this type of scholarship program:

• Scholarships offered by universities to their undergraduate students planning to attend law school.
• There are grants and programs awarded to law students committing to a particular kind of law.
• Some companies finance their employees’ law school expenses.
• There are law school scholarships for minorities that are also criteria-based, as scholars are expected to serve particular communities.

Criteria-based scholarships are normally funded by external institutions, organizations, and firms, so the scholarship databases will help you narrow down your options.

Endowments

Endowments are special law school scholarships awarded to students who meet particular criteria set by a specific donor. This means that endowments are financial aids granted to special law students who meet a particular condition.

These conditions are normally based on the kind of law a student plans to pursue, the communities they intend to serve and cater to after law school, and other specific activities that may be close to the heart of the donor.

Local Scholarships

There are different local scholarships available for specific students within their community, organization, background, or region. Don’t limit your search for scholarships based on your academic achievement and financial status.

You can also think of particular interests, advocacies, and groups that may offer you financial assistance outside your law school and firms. Since local scholarships target specific students, finding the right one for you also means applying for a scholarship where you might have the highest chance of getting accepted.

This is why it’s important to allot time to research and look for these special types of scholarships.

Summing It All Up

We’ve now covered all the types of law school scholarships that are available for you. From merit-based to local scholarships, make sure to list down organizations that meet your needs.

Remember the tips and advice we’ve given you when you start narrowing down your options.

Law school expenses can be intimidating, so having these tools and knowing that there are a lot of organizations advocating for your dreams will help you feel less overwhelmed. Know that you are not alone in your law school journey and there are a lot of institutions willing to help.

We also want you to feel supported by the resources available online including the articles we’ve written about getting into your dream law school, breaking down law school and LSAT expenses, as well as scholarship opportunities for you. With your courage, grit, and passion, your law degree is just a few milestones away from you!