Law School & Legal Studies Scholarships

Rising law students entering their first or second year of full-time study at an accredited U.S. law school who demonstrate commitment to racial justice may apply for the Earl Warren Scholarship from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Scholars receive $15,000 per year for up to three years, provided they remain in good academic standing and meet scholarship criteria. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and submit a completed FAFSA with the application. Include two recommendation letters with the application. Final decisions are made in mid-August or early September. The scholarship is named for Chief Justice Earl Warren, whose court helped end school segregation.

Diverse J.D. students at accredited New York-area law schools (including Connecticut and New Jersey) in good academic standing who intend to practice intellectual property law full time may apply. Two awards of $10,000 each may be granted at the foundation's discretion. Funds are for tuition and law school-related expenses. Submit a professional resume, official transcripts, one letter of recommendation, and a 300-word maximum essay on your interest in intellectual property law and how the scholarship would support your education and career. Recipients are invited to the New York Intellectual Property Law Association Annual Meeting Awards Dinner.

Undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are seriously considering careers in law, legal policy, or social science may apply for the American Bar Foundation Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) in Chicago. Up to five fellows receive a $6,000 stipend for an eight-week summer program. Fellows work one-on-one with ABF research faculty on sociolegal projects, attend weekly seminars, and visit law firms, courts, and social justice organizations. U.S. citizens or permanent residents are preferred. Submit a transcript, resume, two faculty recommendations, a personal statement, and the online application. Founded in 1988, SURF promotes broader inclusion in the legal profession.

Graduate students enrolled in an accredited master's, doctoral, or law program in the U.S. or Canada may apply to conduct original research on community associations and common-interest communities. Stipends range from $3,000 to up to $5,000 over one year. Applicants must remain enrolled through the research period. Submit a research proposal through the Foundation for Community Association Research application. Students from any discipline may apply if their proposed project relates to community associations. The fellowship supports research that informs homeowners, board members, managers, and others who live and work in community associations.

J.D. students currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. law school may apply for Answering Legal's Future Attorneys of America Merit Scholarship. Accepted incoming 1L students are also eligible with proof of matriculation and a minimum 3.5 GPA. One recipient receives a $5,000 award annually. The scholarship recognizes outstanding law students who demonstrate academic excellence and merit in the legal field. Submit a completed application, an unofficial law school transcript (or undergraduate transcript for rising 1Ls), and a 500- to 1,000-word essay.

High school seniors graduating from West Catholic High School who will enroll full time in undergraduate studies in business or law may apply. Awards are up to $5,000. Apply through the GRCF unified scholarship application, which opens December 1 and closes March 1.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. law school may apply for Emery Reddy's $2,000 Legal Studies Scholarship. One law school student receives the award. Winners are announced in late January and must provide proof of enrollment. Submit an original 400 to 600 word essay on what compelled you to become a lawyer and your legal career goals. Emery Reddy offers the scholarship to support students pursuing legal education.

High school and undergraduate students living in the United States, including territories, may submit an original essay or video to the Americans United Student Contest on religious freedom and church-state separation. Employees and board members of Americans United and their immediate families are not eligible. First-place winners in separate high school and college categories receive $1,500. Additional prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500 are available across 12 total awards. Essays must be 750 to 1,000 words. Videos must be two to four minutes and uploaded to YouTube (unlisted), Vimeo, or a file-sharing service. Submit one entry through Americans United's contest portal. Americans United's annual contest encourages students to reflect on why religious freedom protects everyone's right to believe or not believe.

Graduate students and seminarians studying theology, philosophy, history, law, politics, economics, or related fields whose academic work shows potential to advance understanding of theology and free society principles may apply for Calihan Academic Grants from the Acton Institute. Grants of up to $1,000 support research or conference travel. Applications are reviewed quarterly. The Acton Institute supports future leaders exploring the relationship between human dignity, virtue, and free markets.

Students enrolled in an accredited U.S. community college, undergraduate, or graduate program, including incoming freshmen and GED holders, with at least a 3.0 GPA may apply for Goldstein and Bashner's $1,000 Combating Campus Issues Scholarship. Submit a 500-word essay on raising awareness of campus challenges such as hazing, bullying, or sexual assault and creating environments where survivors feel empowered to share their stories, plus a resume and transcript. One award is granted annually. Preference may go to New York students. The firm's attorneys focus on fighting campus wrongs including hazing, bullying, Title IX issues, and sexual assault.