Career Services
The below diversity opportunities are organized by the date on which the application period opens and, if the opening date is unavailable, by the application deadline. We recommend that you apply well in advance of the deadline as many of these are considered on a rolling basis.
This document will be updated regularly in order to capture deadlines as they are posted by the sponsoring organizations. Please check back frequently for updates and confirm deadlines and requirements by reviewing the application/website of the sponsoring organization. Last updated: November 4, 2011.
Fall 2011
November 2011
Ventura County, CA Community Foundation-Roy A. Gustafson Memorial Scholarship
Application period: Fall 2011
Deadline: January [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Candidates must have graduated from a public or private high school in Ventura County; completed the first year of law school at an accredited college or university in California; have financial need.
Award: $2,500
Website: http://www.vccf.org/scholarship/index.shtml
Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship
Application period: Fall 2011
Deadline: January 5, 2012
Eligibility: Law students who meet the selection criteria and have entered into a JD program at an ABA-accredited law school in the United States are eligible to apply for the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship. Applicants may not be a current or past employee of Banner & Witcoff, or directly related to a current employee of Banner & Witcoff.
Scholarship recipients will be selected by the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship review board based on the following criteria:
Academic merit (undergraduate, graduate and law school)
Commitment to the pursuit of a career in IP law
Member of a historically under represented group in IP law (including race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability)
Written communication skills
Oral communication skills determined through an interview of the law student
Leadership qualities and community involvement
Award: $5,000
Website: http://www.bannerwitcoff.com/index.php?option=com_bwabout&id=4/
Sonoma County Women-in-Law Scholarship
Application Period: Application will be posted on website in November.
Deadline: No deadline information available online.
Eligibility: Sonoma County Women in Law is a non-profit professional organization open to all persons in the legal community. Women and men, attorneys and their staffs, paralegals, law students and court personnel are all encouraged to join. Since its inception in the early 1970’s, Sonoma County Women in Law has sought to support and foster the education and advancement of women in all aspects of the law.
The scholarship is awarded annually to assist a law student in completing his or her education. The scholarship committee will consider the following attributes: (1) Sonoma County residence; (2) academic achievement; (3) financial need; (4) second- or third-year law student status; and (5) demonstrated interest in promoting equal opportunity and justice for all women.
The following criteria should be addressed, in 100 words or less:
1. What are your academic and career goals and how are they related to promoting equal opportunity and justice for all women; and
2. Any other reasons believed to be appropriate for consideration by the Scholarship Committee.
Award: $5,000
Website: http://www.sonomawomeninlaw.com
Linn Inn Mark T. Banner Scholarship
Application Period: Application period opens fall 2011.
Deadline: November 15, 2011
Eligibility: The Linn Inn Mark T. Banner Scholarship is open to law students pursuing a career in intellectual property law. The applicant must be a member of a historically underrepresented group (including race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability) and must have exemplary writing and oral communication skills. The scholarship is part of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court’s commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
Scholarship review board based on the following criteria:
- Commitment to the pursuit of a career in IP law
- Commitment, qualities and actions toward ethics, civility and professionalism
- Academic merit (undergraduate, graduate and law school)
- Written and oral communication skills determined in part through a telephone interview
- Leadership qualities and community involvement
- Member of a historically under represented group in IP law (including race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability)
- An ability to demonstrate commitment to the pursuit of a career in intellectual property law is an essential requirement
- Diversity is considered, but is also one element among several in the award decision
Award: $5,000
Website: http://www.linninn.org/marktbanner.htm
Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP – Diversity Scholarship
Application Period: fall 2011.
Deadline: November 21, 2011
Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must be a second-year student enrolled in an accredited law school that is located in one of the following three (3) regions: Southern (Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee); Mid-West/West Coast (Texas, California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin) and Eastern (North Carolina, Virginia/Washington, D.C., New Jersey and Massachusetts). One student in each region receives a $3,000 scholarship in recognition of accomplishments in academics, a commitment to diversity in the community, school or work environment, and personal achievement in overcoming challenges to reach goals. Our commitment to diversity encompasses a broad spectrum of individual characteristics and experiences, including but not limited to race, gender, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.
Award: $3,000
Website: http://www.constangy.com/f-4.html
Tonkon Torp 1L Diversity Fellowship – Portland
Application Period: Website will be updated in November with relevant dates.
Deadline:
Eligibility: 1Ls who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group
The Tonkon Torp LLP 1L Diversity Fellow is selected on the basis of the following criteria:
- The individual must be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group;
- The individual must be a first-year law student in good standing for the degree of Juris Doctor at an ABA accredited law school;
- The individual must demonstrate a record of academic achievement that evidences great promise for a successful career during the remainder of law school and in the legal profession;
- The individual must contribute meaningfully to the diversity of the law school student body, and upon entering the legal profession, the legal community;
- The individual must demonstrate a commitment to practice law in Portland, Oregon following graduation from law school;
- While applicants need not disclose their financial circumstances, a demonstrated need for financial assistance may be taken into consideration.
Award: Summer associate position during the summer immediately following the completion of his or her first year of law school. In addition, if the student returns to work at Tonkon Torp during the summer following his or her second year of law school, the student will receive a $7,500 academic scholarship.
Website: http://www.tonkon.com/Careers/-1LDiversityFellowship.html
National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program
Application Period: Application materials will be available November 2011; must submit documents and request interview before deadline.
Deadline: March 31, 2012
Eligibility: All applicants for these scholarships:
- must be legally blind (PDF document)
in both eyes, and - must be residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and
- must be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course of study in a degree program at a United States institution in the 2011 scholastic year, except that one scholarship may be given to a person employed full-time while attending school part-time, and
- must participate in the entire NFB national convention and in all scheduled scholarship program activities.
In addition to a scholarship, each winner will receive assistance to attend the 2011 National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention in July, providing an excellent opportunity for high-level networking with active blind persons in many different professions and occupations.
Award: $3,000-$12,000
Website: http://www.nfb.org/scholarships/
Community Foundation Sonoma County - Honorable Gayle Guynup Scholarship Fund
Application Period: Application period begins November 29, 2011 for 2012 scholarships.
Deadline: Not yet available for 2012 but the 2011 deadline was February 28, 2011
Eligibility: Scholarship specifically for women in law, who are residents of Sonoma County. Requires completion of a minimum of 1 year in law school
Award: Average award of $5,000
Website: http://www.sonomacf.org 
Community Foundation Sonoma County-Michael F. O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship
Application Period: Begins November 29, 2011 for 2012 scholarships.
Deadline: Not yet available for 2012 but the 2011 deadline was February 28, 2011
Eligibility: This fund was established to honor the memory of Michael F. O'Donnell, a brilliant litigator, who was distinguished by the qualities of supreme decency, honesty, humility and humanity. It awards scholarships to students currently enrolled in law school or pursuing a law-related career.
Award: $2,000
Website: http://www.sonomacf.org/receive/scholarships.html
Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship for Public Interest
Application Period:
Deadline: Application materials for 2012 available in late November.
Eligibility: This scholarship was established by the Foundation of the State Bar of California to assist law students with the cost of their bar examination. The top winners will receive Bar/Bri Bar Exam Review Courses and the rest of the winners will receive awards to help pay Bar exam and related fees. Preference is given to applicants who can demonstrate a long-term commitment to public service.
Requirements:
1) Candidate must be:
•Graduating or have graduated from a California law school in the 2010-2011 academic year; and
•Taking the California Bar Exam in 2011 for the first time.
2) Candidate must demonstrate and document a strong commitment to public service, intent to pursue a public interest legal career after law school, and financial need, as shown by financial aid eligibility and outstanding educational loans.
3) Candidate must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA or equivalent on a 4.0 scale (or provide an explanation of extenuating circumstances if GPA is lower than 2.5) and provide the grading curve used at Candidate's law school.
4) Candidate's law school must certify:
•Candidate's actual or anticipated graduation date;
•Good ethical standing of Candidate while attending law school; and
•Candidate's financial need.
5) Candidate must have filed his/her application for Moral Character Determination with the State Bar of California by the Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship Application deadline. Each law school in California may nominate up to four candidates for the Rosenthal Scholarship.
Award: Bar/Bri Bar Exam Review Courses and/or $2,000
Website: http://www.calbarfoundation.org/programs/scholarships/rosenthal.html
December 2011
Jewish Vocational Service Scholarship Fund
Application period:
Deadline: December 1, 2011
Eligibility: Through a generous grant from the Jewish Community Endowment Newhouse Fund, JVS is proud to award grants of up to $1,800 to Jewish women and men for vocational training.
This scholarship program is open to all Jewish residents of San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma or the Peninsula who can demonstrate financial need and are interested in a short-term training program focused on a clearly defined vocational goal for which there are ready employment opportunities in the Bay Area. Funds can be used for tuition payments, for living expenses while attending a tuition-free program, for equipment, or testing fees. Applicants may request funds for up to a one-year period in duration. If a course of study extends beyond one year, applicants may apply for funds during the last year of study.
Award: Varies, up to $1,800
Website: http://www.jvs.org/scholarships.shtml
Baker Hostetler - Paul D. White Fellowship
Application Period: Applications will be accepted beginning December 1, 2011
Deadline:
Eligibility: Awarded annually to law students of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native descent, in tribute to Paul D. White, the firm's first minority partner and a pioneer for minorities in the legal profession. Mr. White was respected not only for his professional abilities and accomplishments, but for his integrity and the leadership role he assumed in the Cleveland, Ohio,
Award: Paid summer clerkship in Cleveland or Cincinnati offices, and a $7,500 cash award.
Website: http://www.bakerlaw.com/firmdiversity/scholarship/
Dinsmore & Shohl Diversity Scholarship Program – 1L
Application Period: December 1 – December 31, 2011
Deadline: December 31, 2011
Eligibility: We are specifically seeking applicants who have a strong record of academic or professional achievement, demonstrated leadership qualities, and a meaningful commitment to diversity.
In addition to working as a salaried Summer Associate in one of Dinsmore’s offices, recipients will receive a scholarship between $5,000 and $10,000. Recipients will also be assigned a mentor who will serve as a dedicated resource for professional development.
We are also pleased to offer a unique opportunity for one first-year law student with global consumer products company Procter & Gamble. One first-year scholarship recipient will be a salaried Summer Associate for both P&G and Dinsmore, splitting a 12-week period between both organizations’ Cincinnati, Ohio offices. Interested first-year students may also apply for this opportunity between December 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.
Award: $5,000 - $10,000 scholarship and clerkship.
Website: http://www.dinsmorecareers.com/Diversity/DiversityScholarshipProgram.aspx
The MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program
Application period:
Deadline: December 16, 2011
Eligibility: MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship Program provides several scholarships in varying amounts to deserving law students with a commitment to advancing the civil rights of Latinos. MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship Program is open to all law students who will be enrolled full-time in an American-accredited law school in 2011-2012. Scholarships are awarded to students based on their commitment to serve the Latino community through law; their past achievement and potential for achievement; and their financial need.
Award: varies
Website: http://maldef.org/leadership/scholarships/law_school_scholarship_program
McAndrews Diversity in Patent Law Fellowship
Application Period: December 1, 2011 – January 15, 2012
Deadline: January 15, 2012
Eligibility: Candidate must (a) be a first-year law student at an ABA-accredited law school with a diverse background that, in the firm’s view, would help to improve diversity in the field of intellectual property law; (b) have a degree in science or engineering; and (c) intend to practice patent law in Chicago, Illinois.
Award: A paid summer associate (clerkship) position for a period of 10 to 12 weeks following the recipient’s completion of his/her first year of law school. The firm intends to award a $5,000 fellowship at the completion of the clerkship.
Website: http://www.mcandrews-ip.com/diversity_fellowship.html
Fish & Richardson 1L Diversity Scholarships
Application Period: December 1 – January 14 [2011; not yet updated]
Deadline: January 14 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Minority 1L students.
Award: 5 awards of $5,000 and paid summer associate clerkship following 1L year.
Website: http://www.fr.com/diversity-about/
Dorsey & Whitney Diversity Fellowship
Application Period: December 1 - January 21 [for 2011 scholarships]
Deadline: January 21 [in 2011 scholarships] Applicants are encouraged to apply on or shortly after December 1 to be considered; all applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: All students of diverse backgrounds who will have completed one year of law school by the summer of 2011 are eligible to apply. Applicants must attend an ABA-accredited law school. Successful applicants will have a demonstrated record of academic achievement and a commitment to promoting diversity in the legal community.
Award: $7,500 and summer associate position in Denver, Minneapolis, or Seattle office; additional $7,500 for 1L applicant returning for 2L summer clerkship; $5,000 for joining firm as associate.
Website: http://www.dorsey.com/diversity_fellowship_12111/
Arent Fox LLP Diversity Scholarship Program
Application Period: December 1 - January 15 [for 2011 scholarships; not yet updated for 2012]
Deadline: January 15 [for 2011 scholarships; not yet updated for 2012]
Eligibility: Arent Fox offers a scholarship award of $15,000 to three first-year law students who are members of a diverse population that historically has been underrepresented in the legal profession.
The primary goals of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee are to recruit, retain and promote lawyers of color, women and LGBT lawyers, and to ensure that adequate firm resources are dedicated to their training, mentoring, coaching and business development
Award: Three awards of $15,000. The scholarship recipients will also join Arent Fox’s 2011 summer associate program. Each of the firm’s three offices – Washington, New York, Los Angeles – will host one of the recipients for the summer.
Website: http://www.arentfox.com/firm/diversity/index.cfm?fa=scholarship
Best Best & Krieger LLP First Year Law Student Diversity Fellowship/Scholarship Program
Application Period: Application period December 1 - January 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Deadline: January 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Full-time first year law students at UC Davis, UC Hastings, UCLA, USC and Loyola. Students with diverse backgrounds defined to include ethnicity, gender, physical disability and/or sexual orientation and who demonstrate the potential to become an outstanding attorney at BB&K are invited to apply. The successful candidate will be selected based on academic, personal and professional achievement.
This program will provide the recipient with a paid summer associate position in one of its participating offices: Ontario, Riverside or San Diego. To qualify for the $7,500 academic scholarship, the recipient student selected must be invited and must return to BB&K for its second year summer program in 2012. The $7,500 scholarship will be paid following completion of the student's second summer with BB&K.
Award: $7,500 and a paid summer associate position for first year, contingent on returning for a summer associate position second year.
Website: http://www.bbklaw.com/?p=2111
Vinson & Elkins Diversity Fellowships
Application Period: December 1 – January 31 [for 2011 scholarships; not yet updated for 2012]
Deadline:
Eligibility: To be eligible to become a Vinson & Elkins Diversity Fellow, students must attend and be in good standing at an American Bar Association accredited law school. Eligible students must (i) be a member of a racial/ethnic group which has been historically underrepresented in the legal profession (i.e. Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander), (ii) have a strong undergraduate and law school record, (iii) possess excellent writing skills, and (iv) demonstrate interest in working in a law firm setting in Dallas, Austin, or Houston, Texas.
Award: $7,000, in two $3,500 installments, paid at the beginning of the second and third years of law school.
Website: http://www.vinson-elkins.com/uploadedFiles/VEsite/Resources/DiversityFellowshipsApplication.pdf
Humane Studies Fellowship
Application period:
Deadline: January 21, 2011 [$25 application fee]
Eligibility: Awarded to law students planning academic careers with liberty-advancing research interests. IHS considers applications from graduate students with research interests in the intellectual and institutional foundations of a free society. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, or disability.
Award: $2,000 - $15,000, taking tuition costs and other scholarship resources into account.
Website: http://www.theihs.org/humane-studies-fellowships
Justice Hollis G. Best Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: December 31, 2011
Eligibility: This scholarship was established as a memorial to the late Presiding Justice Hollis G. Best to encourage and support outstanding academic achievement and commitment to service by law students. Candidates must be law students who have successfully completed at least one year of law school. Strong preference will be given to current residents of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare or Tuolumne Counties. Primary considerations are academic achievement and the breadth and depth of the applicant's extracurricular and community activities. Financial need and demonstrated leadership capabilities are also taken into consideration.
Award: $1,000
Contact: Justice Hollis G. Best Scholarship Committee 5th District Court of Appeal 2424 Ventura Street Fresno, CA 93721, (559) 445-6266; see also http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/Best_Scholarship.pdf
McDermott Minority Scholarships
Application period:
Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: McDermott awards a $15,000 scholarship to two second-year minority law students from ABA-accredited law schools who have received and accepted a position in a McDermott Summer Program. Students who meet McDermott’s hiring criteria and demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to improving diversity in the legal community should consider applying.
Award: Up to 2 awards of $15,000
Website: http://careers.mwe.com/info/minority_scholarship_2010.pdf
Perkins Coie 1L Diversity Fellowship
Application Period: Applications for the 2012 Fellowship will become available winter 2011.
Deadline:
Eligibility: The individual must be a first-year law student in good standing pursuing the degree of Juris Doctor at an ABA-accredited law school. The individual must possess an academic record, interest and capacity that demonstrate great promise for a successful career during the remainder of law school and in the legal profession. The individual must contribute meaningfully to the diversity of the law school student body and, upon entering the legal profession, the legal community.
Award: $7,500 academic scholarship and a paid summer associate position immediately following the completion of their first year.
Website: http://www.perkinscoie.com/careers/summer/?op=ilprogram
Dorothy L. Weller Philanthropic Educational Opportunities [P.E.O.] Scholarship for California Women in the Field of Law
Application period: Applicant should request application between September 1 – January 1
Deadline: January 1 to request application; February 1 to submit application
Eligibility: Applicants must have applied to, been accepted by or be enrolled in a law school of an accredited college or university (college degree required); or university paralegal program or a licensed paralegal school (high school diploma or equivalent hours required).
Award: Varies
Website: http://www.peocalifornia.org/dlw.html
Spring 2012
January 2012
Japanese American Bar Association
Application Period:
Deadline: January 5 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation (JEF) was created to facilitate the awarding of scholarships to deserving law students and/or recent law school graduates.
Award: $2,000
Website:
Bar Association of San Francisco Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarships
Application Period: “Check back in early 2012 to download a scholarship application”
Deadline:
Eligibility: These scholarships provide financial assistance to qualified students from minority groups underrepresented in Bay Area law schools. Minority students admitted into and entering an ABA-accredited law school in the Bay Area for the fall and current law students may apply.
Award: Varies. Each scholarship involves a substantial three-year commitment; the vast majority of scholarships awarded are $10,000 yearly.
Website: http://www.sfbar.org/diversity/scholarships.aspx
American Association for Justice (AAJ) Women for Justice Education Fund’s Mike Eidson Scholarship
Application Period: Applications accepted beginning January 2012
Deadline:
Eligibility: The Mike Eidson Scholarship Fund was established by the AAJ Women for Justice Education Fund in 2008, in honor of AAJ Past President Mike Eidson, whose vision and generosity inspired it. The Scholarship awards $5,000 annually to a female student entering their third year of law school (the student can be enrolled in a three-year day program or four-year night program) who has demonstrated a commitment to a career as a trial lawyer, along with dedication to upholding and defending the principles of the Constitution, and to the concept of a fair trial, the adversary system, and a just result for the injured, the accused, and those whose rights are jeopardized.
Award: $5,000
Website: http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/8514.htm
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Selected Professions Fellowships – Law
Application Period:
Deadline: January 10, 2012
Eligibility: Fellowships awarded to women in a Law program (J.D.) are restricted to women of color. Law (J.D.) applicants may apply for 3rd year of study only.
Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who intend to pursue a full-time course of study at accredited U.S. institutions during the fellowship year in one of the designated degree programs where women's participation traditionally has been low (see list below). Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Award: $5,000-$18,000
Website: http://www.aauw.org/learn/fellowships_grants/selected.cfm
Faegre & Benson Diversity Scholarship Program
Application Period:
Deadline: January 10 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled full-time at an accredited law school in the United States, with an anticipated graduation date in the spring of [2013]. Scholarship recipients will receive $6,000 for their second year of law school and an additional $6,000 for their third year.
A key element of the diversity scholarship program is a comprehensive mentorship designed to help recipients transition from student to law firm associate. Each recipient will be matched with a Faegre & Benson lawyer, who will start mentoring him or her even before the summer begins. Mentors will help students acclimate both to the firm and to the legal community at large.
Scholarship recipients will be chosen partly on the basis of a short essay that explores how diversity has influenced their lives and how it impacts the legal profession.
Award: $12,000; as $6,000/year during second and third years
Website: http://www.faegre.com/12396
Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship
Application Period: January 10- May 31 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Deadline: May 31 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The application is open to all students who have been accepted into law school to start in the fall. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and able to show proof of same, if requested. Applicant must show proof of his/her acceptance into an ABA-accredited U.S. law school on or before the application deadline (to start in fall 2011). Applicant must have an interest in corporate law, including an interest in working in a corporate law department and/or law firm. Applicant must have an interest in diversity. Applicant must be financially disadvantaged and have completed the FAFSA and provide additional documents as requested. Applicant must demonstrate community service and leadership qualities. Applicant must have earned an undergraduate cumulative G.P.A. of 3.2 or higher. Applicant must be enrolled in law school on a FULL-TIME basis in the fall.
Award: $10,000 per year, up to three years
Website: http://www.mcca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=483&parentID=477
Foster Pepper PLLC 1L Diversity Fellowship
Application Period:
Deadline: January 14 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Any individual of color or other diverse background who:
● Is enrolled and in good standing as a first-year law student (Juris Doctor) at an ABA-accredited law school;
● Demonstrates a record of academic achievement that evidences great promise for a successful career during the remainder of law school and in the legal profession;
● Contributes meaningfully to the diversity of the law school student body and, upon entering the legal profession, the legal community; and
● Demonstrates a commitment to practice law in Seattle, Washington following graduation from law school
Award: $7,500 tuition scholarship for the academic year following a salaried summer associate position in Seattle office after the first year of law school.
Website: http://www.foster.com/pdf/2011DiversityFellowship.pdf
K&L Gates LLP 1L Diversity Fellowship
Application Period:
Deadline: January 14 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Diverse, first-year law student. Must provide personal statement of up to 500 words describing the contribution you would make to the legal profession and to K&L Gates in particular (this may serve as your cover letter)
Award: one award of $10,000 and a salaried summer associate position in Seattle office after the first year of law school.
Website: http://www.klgates.com/files/upload/National_1L_Diversity_Fellowship2011.pdf
Stoel Rives LLP 1L Diversity Fellowship
Application Period:
Deadline: January 19 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Good standing as a 1L student at an ABA accredited law school, commitment to living in Portland or Seattle following law school graduation, and express interest in our practice areas. Diversity means differing life experiences and backgrounds, and may include gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.
Award: $7,500 tuition scholarship for the academic year following a salaried summer associate position after the first year of law school.
Website: http://www.stoel.com/diversity.pdf
Blackstone Legal Fellowship
Application Period:
Deadline: January 19, 2012
Eligibility: The Fellowship is looking for exceptionally capable and highly motivated first year law students. Second year law students are also welcome to apply.
Criteria for selection are based upon demonstrated Christian commitment, motivation to engage popular legal culture, leadership potential in a legal context, evidence of oral and written communication skills, and academic achievement.
Award: $6,300 and participation in the summer program
Website: http://www.blackstonelegalfellowship.org/
Graham & Dunn Diversity Fellowship
Application Period:
Deadline: January 19 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The fellowship recipient will receive a paid summer clerkship at Graham & Dunn and a $7,500 scholarship to be applied to the law student’s second year tuition.
The Diversity Fellowship will be awarded based on criteria that include the following:
•Must contribute to the diversity of the law school student body and the legal community;
•Must demonstrate commitment to fostering diversity in the legal community;
•Must be a first year law student in good standing pursuing a Juris Doctor at an ABA-accredited law school;
•Must possess a record of academic, employment, community and/or other achievement indicating potential for success in law school and in the legal profession;
•Must be able to commit to participation in a 12-week summer clerkship program with the firm and be ultimately committed to practicing law in Seattle for the long term.
Award: $7,500 and paid clerkship at firm
Website: http://www.grahamdunn.com/go/careers/law-students/diversity-fellowship
Davis Wright Tremaine – 1L Diversity Scholarship Program
Application Period:
Deadline: January 19, 2012
Eligibility: The diversity scholarships are open to all first-year law students of color, or others of diverse backgrounds, who:
Have a record of academic achievement in both undergraduate school and the first year of law school which demonstrates promise for a successful career in law, and
Applicant should be committed to civic involvement that promotes diversity and will continue that commitment upon entering the legal profession, and will commit to becoming a summer associate in our Seattle or Portland office between the first and second years of law school.
Award: Paid summer clerkship and $7,500 for the student’s second-year tuition and expenses.
Website: http://www.dwt.com/Careers/SummerAssociates/1LDiversityScholarshipProgram
Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship
Application Period:
Deadline: January 28 [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: A highly competitive program sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Bar (Charlotte, NC), where rising 2Ls spend six weeks as a summer associate at a law firm, and six weeks as a legal intern in a corporate law department. Candidates should submit a brief statement explaining how he or she would contribute to the goal of creating a more diverse legal community in Charlotte, NC.
Award: Each law firm will set the compensation for its clerk.
Website: http://www.charlottelegaldiversity.org/
February 2012
American Bar Association Diversity Fellowship in Environmental Law
Application Period:
Deadline: January 23, 2012
Eligibility:
The Fellowship program is available to first and second year law students or third year night students from underrepresented or underserved groups, including for example, minority or low-income populations. It is generally preferred that you select the state where you are attending law school or have permanent residency status. Exceptions can be made, but preference will generally be given to those attending school, those who have permanent residency, or those who have a strong interest in the state that they are applying to. Students must complete and submit a Fellowship application in order to be considered.
Selected Fellowship recipients will have an 8-10 week internship commitment and will work on legal matters for a government agency or public interest organization in the fields of environmental, energy or resources law. Please note that recipients will choose the state they wish to intern in, but will not be able to select where or in which organization they will be placed.
Award: Each successful recipient will receive a $5,000 ($6,000 for New York Fellows) stipend in exchange for participation in the Fellowship program. The stipend does not cover travel expenses or include a housing allowance; these expenses are paid by the Fellowship recipient.
Website: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/diversity_fellowships.html
Goodwin Procter & MassMutual/Goodwin Public Interest Fellowship for Law Students of Color
Application Period:
Deadline: February [for 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: 1L law students of diverse backgrounds who is seeking and/or applying to work in a public interest law position during the summer after the students’ first year of law school.
In addition to the two Goodwin Fellowships described above, we partner with our client Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company to provide a third fellowship award, the MassMutual/Goodwin Public Interest Fellowship for Law Students of Color. MassMutual is also strongly committed to promoting diversity in our profession and in its business.
Award: $7,500 and interview for 2L summer position at Goodwin Procter
Website: http://www.goodwinprocter.com/Careers/Diversity/The-Goodwin-Diversity-Fellowships.aspx
Boston Lawyers Group 1L Diversity Clerkship
Application Period:
Deadline: February 11 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: 1) 1L Student of Color Currently Attending an Accredited Law School; 2) Candidate can Demonstrate a Connection to Boston.
Clerks will spend the first five weeks of the ten-week clerkship working in the Boston office of one of the BLG’s participating law firms or law department of one of the BLG’s corporate partners, and the second five weeks working in the law department of one of the government agencies. Candidates must submit a brief statement explaining how you will benefit from participating in the Clerkship, and what role you will play in the BLG’s mission to advance diversity in Boston’s legal community
Participating member organizations will determine the start date of the program, which is typically late May or early June.
Award: varies, depending on the terms provided by participating organizations.
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP – 1L Diversity Scholarship
Application Period:
Deadline: February 15 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Bradley Arant Boult Cummings (BABC) Diversity Scholarship is awarded to promote the education of well-qualified law students who reflect the diversity of the legal marketplace and who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. In addition to academic qualifications, BABC may consider other factors including, but not limited to, involvement in community activities, financial need, and significant work and personal achievements.
In connection with receiving the scholarship, recipients will be required to clerk in one of BABC's seven offices for the summer after the scholarship is awarded.
Award: $5,000 for a 1L Student, plus summer clerk position.
Website: http://www.babc.com/diversity_scholarship/
March 2012
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
Application Period:
Deadline: March 1 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school. Although each recipient will need to re-apply for the scholarship in his or her second and third year, the expectation is that the scholarship will be renewed each year if satisfactory performance in law school has been achieved, the student is otherwise eligible, and funding is available.
In addition to whether the applicant is a member of a racial and/or ethnic minority that has been underrepresented in the legal profession, the applicant’s financial need; personal, family and educational background; personal statement; and participation in community service activities will be considered in selecting the recipients of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarships. It is important for every applicant to complete all portions of the application. Financial information for the applicant and his or her parents is required to evaluate the applicant’s financial need.
Award: Twenty $5,000 awards will be made to entering 1Ls and may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000.
Website: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html
Finnegan Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: March 1 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Finnegan Diversity Scholarship is open to application by persons of minority heritage attending top law schools around the nation.
Award: Each scholar is given $15,000 per year for tuition and other law school fees, as well as an offer to join the firm’s summer associate program.
Website: http://www.finnegan.com/careers/summerprogram/overview/
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: March 1 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Porzio Diversity Scholarship supports the development of a first-year law student who embodies elevated values and demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence, leadership, community service and the advancement of diversity in the legal profession.
•The applicant must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 at his/her undergraduate institution.
•The applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America as well as a New Jersey resident.
•The applicant must not be the recipient of a similar scholarship award from another law firm
Award: $5,000.
Website: http://www.pbnlaw.com/Scholarship/Workplace_Diversity_Committee_-_Scholarship_Application.pdf
The Korean American Scholarship
Application period: March 1-May 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Deadline: May 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program. The scholarship recipient is selected on the basis of demonstrable financial need, academic achievement (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher), school activities and community services.
Award: Varies, $2,000 or higher
Website: http://www.kasf.org/application_set.html
American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation - Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholarships
Application period:
Deadline: March 15, 2012
Eligibility: Sponsored by the AIPLEF, this scholarship addresses the need to increase the number of minority intellectual property attorneys and to bring these attorneys to the attention of firms and corporations as candidates for employment. The $10,000 Law Scholarship will be awarded to minority students developing a career in intellectual property law or holding a past or present, full or part-time position in an area related to intellectual property law. Applicants must also have a demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic performance in the undergraduate level and law school level (if applicable).
Selection Criteria
•Scholarships intended for Students entering or attending Law School Fall 2012
•A demonstrated commitment to developing a career in intellectual property law.
•Academic performance at the undergraduate, graduate and law school levels (if applicable).
•Financial Need.
•General factors such as leadership skills, community activities or special accomplishments.
Note that any student who receives a scholarship is required to attend law school, day or evening, on an either a full-time or part-time enrollment basis, and to maintain a grade point average of "C" (2.00) or better.
Also note that scholarship recipients are required to join and maintain membership in AIPLA.
Award: $10,000 (renewable for up to 3 years).
Website: http://www.aiplef.org/scholarships/sidney_b_williams/apply.html
Wiley Manuel Law Foundation Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: March 15 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Wiley William Manuel (1927-1981) was the first African American California Supreme Court Justice. Justice Manuel was deeply concerned about the social, economic, and legal problems facing persons of color. The Foundation awards scholarships to Northern California law students who best exemplify the qualities of the late Justice Wiley.
Award: Varies
Website:
California Bar Foundation – Public Interest Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: March 16 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Awards of up to $7,500 recognize law students who demonstrate superior academic achievement, a sustained and extensive commitment to public service, often while overcoming serious personal hardships and obstacles, an intent to pursue a career in public interest law, and financial need. Candidate must have completed at least one year of study at a California law school by the time Public Interest Scholarships are distributed in September.
Candidate must intend to practice law in California after graduation from law school.
Award: up to $7,500
Website: http://www.calbarfoundation.org/programs/scholarships/lawschool.html
Robert M. Takasugi Public Interest Fellowship
Application period:
Deadline: March 18 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: All fellows must work at a public interest “sponsoring” organization, subject to approval by the Fellowship. In the past, the Fellowship has approved organizations classified as 501(c)(3)s (by the IRS Code) and public defenders’ offices. The organization must be in either the San Francisco Bay Area or the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. The fellows must work at a sponsoring organization for at least ten weeks during the summer of 2011.
Application requires addressing career goals, how you and your work would further the mission and carry on the ideals of Judge Robert M. Takasugi, and whether you have applied for and/or received other sources of funding or scholarships for the same time period.
Award: up to $5,000
Website: http://takasugifellowship.org/
Farella Braun + Martel LLP Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: March [not yet updated for 2012]
Eligibility: Scholarship applicants must be current first-year, full- or part-time (attending first-year classes) law students who are students of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, disabled, or whose background or experience would otherwise contribute to the diversity of the legal profession. Recipients must currently attend one of the following local law schools: University of California, Berkeley School of Law; University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall); University of California, Hastings College of the Law; Golden Gate University, School of Law; Stanford Law School; Santa Clara University, School of Law; or the University of San Francisco, School of Law.
Scholarship recipients will be selected based upon a combination of merit and financial need. With respect to merit, the committee will consider each applicant's academic and extracurricular accomplishments, background, activities, obligations and commitment to community service. Need, as interpreted by the committee, will be determined based upon the applicant's and the applicant's family's income; the applicant's sources of financial aid, including loans, grants, fellowships and scholarships, if any; assets, if any; expenses; and expected income during the summer of 2011. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to working and living in the Bay Area.
Award: $25,000 to be divided between three to five scholarship recipients
Website: http://www.fbm.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/career.diversity_scholarship/scholarship.cfm
South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA NC) Foundation – Public Interest Fellowship
Application period:
Deadline: March 25 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The SABA NC Foundation has a fellowship program that funds public interest fellowships for law students who are dedicated to public interest work that impacts and benefits the South Asian community in Northern California.
Applicants must: (1) Be enrolled in an ABA accredited law school at least part-time (as defined by their own schools); and (2) Demonstrate interest in and commitment to working on behalf of the South Asian community. Strong preference will be afforded to applicants who are enrolled in a Northern California law school and employed at a Northern California organization doing work that directly impacts the South Asian community.
The fellowship shall be awarded based on the following selection criteria: participation in co-curricular activities; participation in extra-curricular and community activities; professional training, i.e., internships, externships, summer clerkships and prior work experience; academic merit; and financial need.
Award: Varies
Website: http://www.southasianbar.org/saba-foundation/test/fellowship
Fredrikson & Bryon Foundation Minority Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: March 31, 2012
Eligibility: The Fredrikson & Byron Foundation Minority Scholarship Program sponsors educational opportunities for currently enrolled, first-year law students of diverse backgrounds, to enhance the understanding and awareness of minority law students regarding opportunities for the private practice of law in the Upper Midwest.
For purposes of eligibility for consideration for the minority scholarship, applicants must affirm their status as a member of a minority classification as designated in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Regulations, 29 C.F.R. Part 1602 (i.e., Native American or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American or Black, and Hispanic).
Award: One award of $10,000 plus an invitation to become a summer associate the summer following 2L year.
Website: http://www.fredlaw.com/firm/scholarship.htm
Robert Masur Fellowship in Civil Liberties
Application period:
Deadline: Applications will be considered in spring [not yet updated]
Eligibility: The fellowship competition is open to first-year law students who intend to carry out significant activities during the summer (in between their first and second year) in the areas of civil rights and/or civil liberties. Proposed activities may include a writing or research project, work with a public interest organization in the areas of civil rights or civil liberties, work on a civil rights or civil liberties law case under the supervision of a faculty member or lawyer, or any other work in the areas of civil rights or civil liberties.
Award: $1,000 honorarium (possible $500 prize for runners up)
Website: http://www.nationinstitute.org/prizes/1068/the_robert_masur_fellowship_in_civil_liberties/
San Mateo County, CA Women Lawyers Section Educational Foundation
Application period:
Deadline: March 31, 2012
Eligibility: Scholarships are available to all students, both male and female, and are based on financial need, academic excellence, residential or other ties to San Mateo County, and involvement in activities, whether legal, scholastic, public, private or community. Applicants for the scholarship should submit a letter stating their qualifications for the award and the information about why they should be chosen. Please include in the letter, or as a separate attachment, the following information: All law school scholarships received and in what amounts, specify how the law school education is being financed, and include a copy of the current law school transcript.
Award: $1,000 - $4,000
Contact: San Mateo County Women Lawyers Education Foundation, P.O. Box 90, San Carlos, California 94070
April 2012
George A. Strait Minority Scholarship Endowment
Application period:
Deadline: April 1, 2012
Eligibility: The George A. Strait Minority Scholarship is awarded to college graduates with law library experience who are members of a minority group as defined by current U.S. government guidelines and are degree candidates in accredited library or law schools and who intend to have a career in law librarianship. Applicants must have at least one quarter/semester remaining AFTER the scholarship is awarded.
Award: $3,500
Website: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Member-Resources/scholarships/George-A-Strait-Minority-Scholarship
Zelle Hoffman Voelbel & Mason, LLP Diversity in Law Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: April 1 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Created for law students who either (1) are a member of a diverse group (broadly defined to include race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical disability or economic/educational disadvantage) that is historically underrepresented in the private practice of law; or (2) demonstrate a long-standing commitment to diversity that will be furthered by award of the scholarship.
The scholarship recipient will also be offered a paid summer clerkship at one of the firm’s offices for the summer following the student’s first year of law school. Finally, in order to help ensure the recipient’s successful entry into the legal profession, the firm will assign an attorney to mentor the recipient for the student’s remaining law school career.
Award: Total award $30,000, paid out as $15,000 for second year and $15,000 for third year if student maintains minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in second year. Paid summer clerkship offer after first year, with assigned mentor.
Website: http://www.zelle.com/news-updates-121.html
Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: April 1, 2012
Eligibility: This scholarship is presented annually to a qualified graduate student majoring in law, policy or public administration with a focus or concentration in California water resources. Eligible students must be attending a graduate or law school in the U.S., carrying at least 8 units per term and planning to attend school for the complete year in which the scholarship is awarded.
Award: $7,000
Website:http://www.acwa.com/content/acwa-water-law-policy-scholarship;
See also http://www.acwa.com/sites/default/files/page/2010/02/water_law_application_2012-13.pdf
Iranian-American Bar Association Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: April 1 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: This scholarship was established to recognize law students committed to the advancement of the Iranian-American community. Applicants must be: of Iranian Heritage or committed to the advancement of the Iranian-American community; enrolled full-time in an accredited law school in the United States; in the position to accept the scholarship in the school year for which it is being awarded.
Award: $1,000
Website:
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: April 5 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Black Women Lawyers Association awards its scholarships on the basis of financial need, community service, academic achievement and legal writing ability. Eligibility is limited to 2L and 3L students. Successful candidates should expect to practice law in the Southern California area.
Award: Varies
Website:
Defense Research Institute – Law Student Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: April 27 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: DRI announces its annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship program open to incoming second and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pan Asian and Native American students. Incoming second and third-year female law students are also eligible, regardless of race or ethnicity. Incoming second and third-year law students who also come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity, regardless of race or gender are eligible to apply. Students who are members of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), Law School or Law Student members of AAJ or students otherwise affiliated with or employed by AAJ are not eligible for DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarships. To qualify for this scholarship, candidate must be a full-time student or evening student who has completed two-thirds or more of the total credit hours requirement for a degree by the applicant’s law school. The goal of these scholarships is to provide financial assistance to two worthy law students from ABA accredited law schools in order to promote, in a tangible way, the DRI Diversity Statement in Principle.
Two scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each will be awarded to applicants who best meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrated academic excellence
- Service to the profession
- Service to the community
- Service to the cause of diversity
Award: $10,000
Website: http://www.dri.org/open/Article.aspx?ID=496
Allen E. Broussard Scholarships
Application period:
Deadline: April 29 [in 2011; not yet updated for 2012]
Eligibility: The goal of the Foundation is to provide scholarship assistance to minority law students attending San Francisco Bay Area law schools, based on academic performance, community service and financial need. The scholarships are intended to defray the costs of tuition and other related expenses for promising future lawyers whose academic achievements, dedication to public service and strong character are in keeping with the late Justice Broussard's beliefs.
The following criteria will be considered in awarding the scholarships:
a. Academic record (which may include, but is not limited to grades, participation in law review, moot court, or working as a teaching fellow);
b. Extracurricular activities (with emphasis on service oriented extracurricular activities directed towards the enhancement of opportunities for minorities);
c. Letters of recommendation;
d. Financial need; and
e. Applicant’s essay
Award: $5,000
Website: http://www.broussard-scholarship.org/scholar.html
Incorporated Society of Irish/American Lawyers Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: April 29 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Incorporated Society of Irish/American Lawyers will award two scholarships in the name of the late Thomas P. Thornton, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, and a founding member of the society. Applicants should be of Irish descent and have 2L or 3L status when they submit their application, with minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. Recipients are invited to the Society's annual dinner dance in May.
Award: $1,000
Website: http://www.irish-lawyers.org/custpage.php?cid=63
May 2012
Dominican Bar Association Law School Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: May 1 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The DBA Law School Scholarship Program awards scholarships in the amount of $3,000.00 to individuals in their first, second or third year of law school. Students must be enrolled in law school full-time or part-time to qualify.
The scholarships are awarded to students based primarily on the following three factors:
• Demonstrated involvement in and commitment to serve the Latino community through the legal profession;
• Academic and personal achievement; and
• Financial need.
Award: $3,000
Website: http://www.dominicanbarassociation.org/index.php/membership
McGuireWoods Diversity Scholarship Program – 1L
Application period:
Deadline: May 15 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: First year law students. To us, diversity encompasses age, sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, as well as educational, economic and professional backgrounds.
Applicants are considered based on their involvement in community activities and diversity-related student organizations, demonstrated leadership, and personal and undergraduate academic achievement. Consistent with the objective of promoting diversity in legal education and leadership roles in the legal profession,
McGuireWoods will also consider additional criteria including, among other factors, whether the applicant is:
• First family member to attend college.
• From an economically disadvantaged family.
• A member of a group currently underrepresented in law schools and law firms.
• From a family with little or no legal education or experience.
• From a school whose graduates are historically underrepresented in law schools.
• Strongly committed to promoting diversity in his or her undergraduate school or community, and has demonstrated that commitment
Award: $5,000
Website: http://recruiting.mcguirewoods.com/docs/recruiting-diversity-program.pdf
Judge John R. Brown Award for Excellence in Legal Writing
Application period: February- May [in 2011; not yet updated]
Deadline: May 20[in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation recognizes excellence in legal writing with an annual award to a law student. To be eligible, students must be pursuing their J.D. or LL.B degree at an accredited law school in the United States. Applicants will be evaluated based on a recent paper relating to law; there are no restrictions on the length or topic of the paper.
Award: $10,000
Website: http://www.brownsims.com/judgebrownaward.htm
Lang Richert & Patch-Frank H. Lang Merit Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: May 27 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Open to persons presently in first year at law school or applying for admission to law school. The successful applicant must have graduated from a high school in one of the following California counties: Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, or Calaveras. The Scholarship is awarded solely on merit and not on need. The Scholarship will be awarded to the applicant most likely to achieve the same high standards of the Scholarship’s namesake.
Award: $1,000
Website: http://www.lrplaw.net/careers/frank-h-lang-merit-scholarship/
Justice Pauline Davis Hanson Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: May 30 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Candidates must be female law students who have successfully completed at least one year of law school and have not graduated. Preference will be given to current or former residents of California's Fresno, Kings, Madera or Tulare counties. Primary considerations are academic achievement and the breadth and depth of the applicant's extra-curricular and community activities. Financial need and demonstrated leadership abilities are also taken into consideration.
Award: $2,000
Contact: http://www.fcwl.org; Hanson Scholarship Committee; Fresno County Women Lawyers; 2445 Capitol Street, Suite 140; Fresno, CA 93721-2267
American Association for Justice (AAJ) Richard D. Hailey Law Student Scholarships
Application period:
Deadline: May 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: These scholarships are open to all incoming first, second, and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American and Bi-Racial AAJ Law Student Members.
Scholarships will be awarded to the applicants who best meet the criteria listed, but not limited to, below:
- Exhibit an interest and proficiency of skills in trial advocacy
- Express a desire to represent victims
- Demonstrate a commitment to AAJ and dedication to its mission through involvement in an AAJ student chapter and Minority Caucus activities
- Show a financial need for the scholarship
Award: $1,000
Website: http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/1737.htm
American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trial Advocacy Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: May 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all AAJ Law Student Members who are entering their second or third-year of law school. A $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who best:
1. demonstrates a commitment to AAJ and dedication to its mission through extensive involvement in AAJ student chapter activities;
2. expresses a desire to represent victims;
3. exhibits an interest and proficiency of skills in trial advocacy;
4. shows a financial need for the scholarship.
Award: $2,500
Website: http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/1741.htm
American Association for Justice (AAJ) Leesfield Law Student Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: May 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Sponsored by Ira Leesfield and AAJ, this scholarship has been established to award $2,500 to a law student for attendance at AAJ's Annual Convention. The 2011 Annual Convention will be held in New York, New York on July 9-13. This scholarship is available to first and second year AAJ Law Student Members.
Award: $2,500
Website: http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/1742.htm
Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI)’s H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competitions-Law Students
Application period:
Deadline: May 31 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The Food and Drug Institute (FDLI) sponsors the Writing Competitions to encourage law students interested in the areas of law that affect foods, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and biologics. The applicant must be enrolled in a J.D. program at any of the nation’s law schools
Award: $1,000-$4,000
Website: http://www.fdli.org/academic/hthomas.html
June 2012
Alia Herrera Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed on or before June 6 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: The application is open to law students who are entering their second or third year of law school, or have the equivalent of one year to complete. The winning applicant is invited to attend the AAJ Annual Convention, at their expense, held in New York City this summer.
• Law students who are student members of the law school student section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), OR
• Law students who are children of AAJ members
Award: $3,000
Website: http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/1740.htm
California Bar Foundation – Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: June 15 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Candidate must be:
- Accepted and have committed to enroll in a California law school at the time of submitting an Application, and
- Starting his or her first year at a California law school in the 2011-2012 academic year
Candidate must self-identify as being from a racial or ethnic group that historically has been underrepresented in the legal profession.
Candidate must demonstrate financial need, as shown by financial aid eligibility and outstanding educational loans.
Candidate must be committed to making an impact in the community through leadership (there is no requirement that Candidate intend to pursue a career as a public interest attorney).
Award: up to $7,500
Website: http://www.calbarfoundation.org/programs/scholarships/diversity.html
Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: June 24 [extended deadline from 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC will award three scholarships to diverse law students this year. Each recipient will be awarded $10,000 during the third year of law school to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses. Additionally, recipients will be awarded a salaried 2L Summer Associate position in one of our following offices: Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge, New Orleans, LA; Jackson, MS; or Chattanooga, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, TN. The recipients' office preferences will be taken into consideration, but final assignment will be according to the Firm's needs. The recipients may split their summers with other law firms; however, they are required to work during the period that the other Summer Associates in that Baker Donelson office are working.
Award: $10,000
Website: http://www.bakerdonelson.com/diversity-scholarship-diversity-practices/
Jan Jancin Award
Application period:
Deadline: June 15 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: Enrolled graduate student pursuing a career in intellectual property law, nominated by the law school’s Dean. Each dean will have the flexibility to use any reasonable criteria, including, by way of example, any of the following:
•best grades in IP courses overall;
•outstanding achievement in specified IP courses;
•best IP paper written by a student;
•determination by a faculty consensus; or
•membership and activity in student IP organizations.
Award: $2,500 or $5,000
Website: http://www.aiplef.org/scholarships/jan_jancin/
July 2012
Cooley LLP
Application period:
Deadline: July 5 [in 2011; not yet updated]
Eligibility: First-year law students who demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity in their communities are invited to apply for the fellowships. Award recipients will receive a paid Summer Associate position and an award of up to $15,000 to assist with law school tuition.
Criteria:
•A demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity in the community
•Enrolled full-time in an ABA accredited law school with an anticipated graduation date of 2013 at the time of application
•Not the recipient of a diversity award from another law firm paid between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012
•In order to receive the fellowship, an applicant must participate in and complete the Firm's Summer Associate Program following the applicant's 2L year
Award: up to $15,000 award and a Summer Associate position.
Website: http://www.cooley.com/diversityfellowship
Ms. JD Summer Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: July 9, 2012
Eligibility: Ms. JD is awarding $500 scholarships to female law students entering their second or third year at an accredited U.S. law school and working the summer of 2010 at least 35 hours per week for a minimum of 6 weeks at a government agency or nonprofit organization. Unpaid judicial externs also qualify.
Award: $500
Website: http://ms-jd.org/scholarship
Fall 2012
August 2012
Kirkland & Ellis LLP Diversity Fellowship Program
Application period:
Deadline: August 26, 2011, or no later than one week after the On-Campus Interview visit. [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Candidate must: (1) be enrolled and in good standing as second-year law student (Juris Doctor) at an ABA-accredited law school and/or be a joint-degree student at an ABA-accredited law school that will graduate from both programs in 2013; (2) have a demonstrated record of academic achievement; (3) demonstrate that they will contribute meaningfully, either as a result of background, personal attributes or characteristics, to the diversity goals of Kirkland; (4 )receive an offer to join the Kirkland summer program in one of our domestic offices; (5) have a sincere interest and commitment to private practice; and (6) be likely to practice after graduation at one of Kirkland’s offices.
Award: $15,000 stipend payable during the recipient’s third year of law school
Website: http://www.kirkland.com/sitecontent.cfm?contentID=231&itemID=776; https://kesurveys.kirkland.com/Survey.aspx?s=c87ce19d7ef1470984a7fa7568b4effd
Harvey Fellows Program
Application period: Application period August-November
Deadline: November 1 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The program seeks to encourage Christian graduate students to integrate their faith and vocation and pursue leadership positions in strategic fields where Christians tend to be underrepresented. Program details, application procedures, and application forms are available online.
Criteria for selecting individuals for the Harvey Fellowship include the applicant’s:
• Description of his/her Christian faith, and evidence of its strength and maturity
• Demonstrated ongoing commitment and accountability to the local church
• Articulation of the strategic nature of his/her vocational arena as a mission field and as a position from which to influence society
• Argument for the lack of a distinctive Christian voice in that field
• Demonstrated expertise within the discipline/field
• Demonstrated passion and ability to lead others
• Potential to impact people and systemic structures within the field through his/her vocational vision and commitment
• Ability to be successful in the chosen field of study, profession and cultural context
Award: $16,000 stipend (renewable)
Website: http://www.msfdn.org/harveyfellows/overview/
September 2012
Milbank Diversity Scholarships
Application period:
Deadline: September 1 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The Milbank Diversity Scholars Program awards salaried summer associate positions in one of the firm’s domestic offices and a $50,000 scholarship to up to two more students each year. ($25,000 is distributed during the student’s third year of law school; payment of the additional $25,000 is contingent upon receipt and acceptance of a Milbank permanent offer, to be paid upon the student’s joining the firm).
To be named a Milbank Diversity Scholar, candidates must be in good standing at an ABA accredited law school and have successfully completed their first year of a full-time JD program. Factors considered in the selection of Milbank Diversity Scholars include academic achievement, demonstrated leadership ability, excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and a sincere interest in our practice. Students who are members of groups traditionally under-represented in large law firms are encouraged to apply.
Award: $25,000 scholarship and summer associate position; additional $25,000 upon accepting associate position.
Website: http://www.milbank.com/careers/the-summer/diversity.html
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: September 2 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Only law students pursuing a Juris Doctor (non LL.M) degree in an accredited law school in the U.S. at least half time as determined by the school is eligible for a NAPABA Law Foundation Scholarship. The law school must be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).
The Foundation considers all of the materials submitted by the applicant, with particular weight given to the applicant's essay. Letters of recommendation should be furnished by individuals who can provide relevant information and who can be contacted by the Foundation. The applicant must be in good standing at his or her law school. The Foundation considers factors including, but not limited to, the applicant's:
- demonstrated commitment to and interest in pro bono, public interest and/or public service legal work
- financial need
- leadership potential
- maturity and responsibility
- commitment to serving the needs of the Asian Pacific American community
Award: Varies ($2,000-$7,500).
Website: http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=scholarships
Riddell Williams P.S. – 2L Diversity Fellowship
Application period:
Deadline: September 8 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Diverse background, which may include gender, race, national origin, religion, age, veterans status, political affiliation, marital status, disability, socioeconomic circumstances, geographic background, sexual orientation and family circumstances, with particular emphasis on candidates who are members of groups that are historically underrepresented in the legal profession and at RW.
•Candidate must be a second year law student in good standing at an ABA accredited law school
•candidate must possess a distinguished academic record, leadership ability, commitment to community service, and personal and professional accomplishments that demonstrate promise for a successful legal career
•The candidate’s background and experience must demonstrate the ability to make continuing contributions to the diversity of RW and the legal profession, and
•The candidate must express interest in our practice areas and commitment to building their practice in the Seattle area.
Award: salaried summer association position and $7,500 scholarship during the academic year
Website: http://www.riddellwilliams.com/pdf/diversity-fellowship-2012.pdf
AABA Law Foundation Fellowship Opportunity
Application period:
Deadline: September 9 [Not yet updated.] Applications will be considered as received on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: API Legal Outreach invites project proposals from third-year law students for Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Borchard, Abascal, Echoing Green, New Voices, Berkeley Law, Columbia Law and Stanford Law Foundations, or other fellowships to begin in fall 2013. Fellowship applicants will be considered on the bases of the strength of their project proposals, their demonstrated commitment to social justice work and experience in working with low- income API or other underserved communities, and their demonstrated ability to work creatively and independently. For more information, contact Heidi Li at hli@apilegaloutreach.org or visit www.apilegaloutreach.org
Award: Varies
Website:
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP – 2L Diversity Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline:
Eligibility: The Bradley Arant Boult Cummings (BABC) Diversity Scholarship is awarded to promote the education of well-qualified law students who reflect the diversity of the legal marketplace and who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. In addition to academic qualifications, BABC may consider other factors including, but not limited to, involvement in community activities, financial need, and significant work and personal achievements.
In connection with receiving the scholarship, recipients will be required to clerk in one of BABC's seven offices for the summer after the scholarship is awarded.
Award: $10,000 for a 2L Student, plus summer clerk position.
Website: http://www.babc.com/diversity_scholarship/
Serbian Bar Association of America Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: September 15 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The Serbian Bar Association of American (SBAA) awards scholarships to law students who are of Serbian birth, ancestry, or connubial relationship. Applicants must submit an essay of no more than 250 words detailing how they plan to use their legal education within the Serbian American community and submit a certified copy of their law school transcript.
Award: $500 - $2000
Website:
Dinsmore & Shohl Diversity Scholarship Program – 2L
Application period: Application period July 25- September 15, 2011
Deadline: September 15 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility:
In addition to working as a salaried Summer Associate in one of Dinsmore’s offices, recipients will receive a scholarship between $5,000 and $10,000. Recipients will also be assigned a mentor who will serve as a dedicated resource for professional development.
Award:
Website: http://www.dinsmorecareers.com/Diversity/DiversityScholarshipProgram.aspx
Contra Costa County Bar Association – Hon. Patricia Herron & Hon. Ellen James Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: September 28 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The Women’s Section annually awards the Honorable Patricia Herron and Honorable Ellen James Scholarship to deserving law students who have shown leadership potential, achieved academic success, and helped to advance women’s issues.
Qualifications: Completion of first year of law school AND
· Resident of Contra Costa County at the time of application OR
· Attend a California Law School and intend to practice law in Contra Costa County after graduation OR
· Attend a California Law School and has current commitments to Contra Costa County and intends to continue commitments to Contra Costa County after graduation
Considerations:
· Commitment to Women’s Issues; Leadership; Academic Achievement; Career Goals; Special Circumstances/Hardship; Financial Need
Award: varies, $1,000 - $10,000
Website:
2011 announcement: http://www.cccba.org/flyer/2011_ Women_Section_ scholarship_appl.pdf
Latham & Watkins Diversity Scholars Program
Application period:
Deadline: September 30 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: To become a Latham Diversity Scholar, you must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and intend to practice law in a major city of the United States. You must have successfully completed your first year of a full-time JD program, and you may not be the recipient of a similar scholarship award from another law firm. Latham & Watkins Diversity Scholars program is designed to increase the number of diverse attorneys who want to pursue careers in global law firms.
Applicants should discuss how you will contribute to diversity in the legal profession generally, including (to the extent applicable) such factors as:
• Ability and commitment to contribute to the diversity objectives of global law firms
• Life experiences that have shaped your values and that provide you with a unique perspective, including any obstacles or challenges you overcame in choosing or pursuing law as a profession
• Academic and/or leadership achievements
• Desire to practice in a global law firm environment
Award: $10,000 non-renewable scholarship
Website:
October 2012
Baker Hostetler Diversity Fellowship Program
Application period: August 1- October 7 [Not yet updated.]
Deadline: October 7 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Open to any second-year law student, successful applicants to the program will receive up to a $25,000 award as well as a position in the Baker Hostetler summer associate program. The amount of $10,000 will be paid within the first 30 days of starting in a summer associate position with the firm and the remaining $15,000 is contingent upon receiving and accepting a full-time offer with the firm, to be paid within 30 days of joining the firm as a full-time associate.
This is a merit based fellowship. Fellowship applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled full-time in an ABA-accredited law school and in good standing as a second-year law student at the time of application
- A member of one of the under-represented racial/ethnic groups set forth by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a member of the LGBT community
- Not a recipient of a similar diversity award from another law firm for the same time period
- Applicants must spend at least eight weeks with the firm (the Houston office will permit applicants to work six weeks with the firm). Splitting time between two offices may be permitted based upon approval of the two offices' Hiring Partners
- A U.S. citizen or otherwise authorized to work in the United States
Award: up to $25,000 award and a position in the Baker Hostetler summer associate program
Website:
John M. Langston Bar Association Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: October 7 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The John M. Langston Bar Association is the largest African-American bar association in Los Angeles. Langston's mission is to provide a source of networks, support, and mentorship for African-American attorneys. Each year, Langston sponsors various workshops to address the needs of African-American attorneys and provides scholarships to qualified law students and bar grants for law school graduates. The Scholarship Committee works to raise money and provide scholarships to outstanding and deserving law students based on both their merit and need. Recipients are chosen through a review process that includes an application and interview.
Award: Varies
Website:
La Raza Lawyers Association of Santa Clara County
Application period:
Deadline: October 11 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: La Raza Lawyers Association of Santa Clara County provides scholarships to encourage and advance the social, cultural, economic and legal equality of minorities. The scholarships are available to La Raza students who (1) are from the Bay Area; or (2) attend Santa Clara University, Lincoln, UC Berkeley, USF, UC Hastings, Stanford, Golden Gate University, UC Davis, or McGeorge Schools of Law. In addition, the Association will consider activities such as, but not limited to, community involvement, peer counseling, school activities and financial need.
Award: $2,500
Website:
Fresno County Bar Association - Harry Zekian Memorial Scholarship
Application period:
Deadline: October 15, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Applicants must be residents of California's Fresno County who are students in good standing at a California law school accredited by the State Bar. Students in law schools outside Fresno County are eligible if their permanent family residence address is in Fresno County. Updated applications will be sent to law schools each fall.
Award: $2,500
Website:
Winston & Strawn Diversity Scholarship Program
Application period:
Deadline: October 15, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Winston & Strawn LLP is offering three (3) scholarships to diverse law school students who join the 2012 summer program in one of our domestic offices following the conclusion of their second year of law school. Each $10,000 scholarship will be paid during the students' third year of law school to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses.
In selecting the scholarship recipients, Winston & Strawn will consider the students':
•Interest in practicing law after graduation in one of Winston's domestic offices (currently Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.)
•Law school and undergraduate record, including academic achievements and involvement in extracurricular activities
•Demonstrated leadership abilities and interpersonal skills
Award: $10,000; must accept salaried summer associate position during 2L summer.
Website: http://www.winston.com/index.cfm?contentID=6&itemType=20&itemID=122&pageID=324
Fresno County Bar Association
Application period:
Deadline: October 15, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Applicants must be residents of California's Fresno County who are students in good standing at a California law school accredited by the State Bar. Students in law schools outside Fresno County are eligible if their permanent family residence address is in Fresno County. Updated applications will be sent to law schools each fall.
Award: $1,000
Website:
Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys, INC. Scholarships
Application period:
Deadline: October 28, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: Women of color law students who (1) have completed at least one year of law school; (2) are attending an accredited law school in the U.S. at the time of their application; (3) are “in good standing” in their law schools; (4) are citizens of the United States of America; (5) minimum GPA of 2.5 (equivalent) or better; (6) have completed the scholarship application and submitted an official transcript; and (7) have demonstrated a commitment to the Profession and are active in their community and law school.
Award: $3,000
Website:
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Advocacy Fellowship Program
Application period:
Deadline: October 31, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The Program is open to law students who (1) have completed their second year (or equivalent) of law school; (2) exhibit a diversity of traits and attributes in age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic factors or national origin or demonstrate a commitment to fostering such diversity within the legal community; and (3) demonstrate a strong interest in and/or commitment to representing plaintiffs in civil actions.
Four fellowships will be awarded. The Fellows will be selected based on information provided in the written application materials, including the applicant’s commitment to the goals of diversity and interest in representing plaintiffs in civil actions. Other factors include past work experience and relevant coursework. Applicants selected for consideration based on the written materials will then be personally interviewed by members of the SFTLA Diversity Committee. The Fellows will be selected following the interviews.
Award: $6,000, in installments of $1,500.
Website:
Hispanic Bar Association (HBA) of Orange County Wally Davis Memorial Legal Scholarship/Hispanic Education Endowment Fund
Application period:
Deadline: October 31, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: The Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to Orange County Latino students who are presently attending law school and who have demonstrated involvement in the Latino Community. The Scholarship Fund was named in honor of Wallace (Wally) R. Davis, one of the first Hispanic attorneys in Orange County. He rose to the highest ranks in the legal profession, co-founding the HBA and championing the struggles of the Latino community. By assisting young Latino law students, this scholarship is awarded to those who would follow in his footsteps.
Eligible students must be of Latino origin and involved in the Latino community. Priority will be given to students with significant ties to Orange County.
Award: $7,000
Website:
November 2012
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Application period:
Deadline: November 1, 2011 [Not yet updated.]
Eligibility: 1. Status as a New American: If you were born outside the United States (as a non-citizen), you must, as of November 1, 2011, be either a naturalized citizen or in possession of a green card (i.e., be a resident alien).
2. Age: You must not have reached or passed your 31st birthday as of November 1, 2011. In other words, you must have been born on or after November 2, 1980.
3. Academic Standing: You must be a college senior in good standing or hold a bachelor’s degree. If you are currently enrolled in a graduate program in the United States, you must be in your first or second year in that program.
A successful candidate will give evidence of at least two of the following three attributes:
1) Creativity, originality and initiative demonstrated in any area of his/her life;
2) a commitment to and capacity for accomplishment, demonstrated through activity that has required drive and sustained effort; and
3) a commitment to the values expressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Award: Maintenance grant of $25,000 (paid in 2 installments) and Tuition Grant up to $20,000 per year
Website: http://www.pdsoros.org/
