Law school is expensive – and students who go to graduate school for law collectively take on millions of dollars in student debt. The good news is that there are many law school scholarships and grants out there. Some are even sponsored by private law firms.
Most law students never even know that these scholarship opportunities exist. That’s why we’ve put together an updated list of opportunities to help you in your search process. You may even end up paying for most, if not all, of the cost of your education.
The 2021 Laws101.com Scholarship
At laws101.com, we believe that the legal profession is a noble profession – and one that protects our freedoms in this country that we hold so dearly.
As such, we are offering a once-yearly $2,500 scholarship to students who are currently attending or planning to attend law school in the Fall 2021 semester.
The current open submission period is for Fall 2021. Applications must be received on or by Monday, May 31, 2021.
Scholarship Details and Guidelines
- Students can be attending or planning to attend any graduate law school in the United States.
- To receive scholarship funds, you must be living in the United States (with a U.S. mailing address) at the time of the scholarship’s due date.
- As proof of your status as a graduate-level law student, you will need to submit a digital copy of your acceptance letter—complete with the college letterhead—from that college.
- All applications for the current semester are due by Monday, May 31, 2021.
Essay Topic
To apply, you’ll need to submit a 2,000-2,500 word essay on the following topic:
- Select any controversial legal topic that has been trending on the news and defend your stance on the matter from a strictly objective legal perspective.
Once the application period closes, we will determine a winner based on the following factors: originality, creativity, and the applicant’s level of knowledge in the topic. We will also judge the applicant’s overall ability to write a well-crafted essay and write in a thought-provoking manner about the core legal topic at hand.
By submitting your essay to us, you agree that your essay may be featured on our site. We will publish the winning essay as well as a couple of the top contenders. Published essays may appear with minor edits in place.
Application Instructions
- To submit your application and essay, you must send us the following items:
- Your completed essay
- A digital copy of the acceptance letter from your graduate-level law school verifying your status as a student
- A resume or 1-page biography about yourself
- Your essay MUST be attached as either a .DOCX or .PDF file format. Please adhere to MLA formatting guidelines (12 pt. font, Times New Roman or another easily-legible font, double-spacing, etc.) when submitting your essay to us and cite any sources used in your essay.
- Email all items to [email protected] with the subject line, “Fall 2021 Scholarship Application”. In the body of your email, include your name, physical mailing address, phone number, and the name of your law school.
We look forward to reviewing your applications!
Applying for other law school scholarships
Applying for a scholarship is a lengthy process, so it’s important that you prioritize your target list in the order in which you’re most likely to win.
There are several ways to begin your scholarship search and we’ve categorized them as follows:
Law Firm Scholarships
Just as the name implies, law firms award these types of scholarships of scholarships.
The Pros:
- Since these are awarded by private law firms, these provide a good way to build a professional relationship long before graduation.
- There are no limitations pertaining to how many you can apply to.
The Cons:
- These are generally awarded for specific legal fields of interest to the firm.
- Award amounts are typically small.
University-specific scholarships
The Pros:
- Award amounts tend to be higher than any other type of scholarship – sometimes even covering the entire cost of your education!
- Winning a scholarship through this method builds a lot of clout for your aptitude as a future lawyer.
The Cons:
- These are highly-competitive as most law students apply to this type of scholarship.
- These are restricted to students who are already enrolled in the university’s law school.
Minority scholarships and grants
The Pros:
- Universities celebrate diversity in their educational programs and law schools are no exception. There are numerous opportunities for scholarships and grants if you’re from an under-represented group.
- Oftentimes, sizable grants are offered by the government to minority law school applicants.
The Cons:
- These are only available to those that meet the qualification requirements that define the under-represented minority group.
Private scholarships & grants
The Pros:
- Many independent private groups and donors also sponsor scholarships for a variety of reasons. There are numerous opportunities that range in a few hundred dollars to a full-ride scholarship.
- Privately funded scholarships are generally made possible by influential people. As a future lawyer, it’s best to start growing your network as early as possible.
The Cons:
- These types of opportunities are plentiful but are not as easy to find.