By Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Updated: November 23rd, 2021

Law school, like many other professional degrees, is known for being extremely expensive, but potentially lucrative. Lawyers are among the highest paid professionals. However, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, the average law student will graduate with over $140,000 of debt. This is where law school scholarships can come into play and help you pay for your J.D.!

Jump ahead to:

• Top law school scholarships in 2021
• How to win law school merit scholarships
• Frequently asked questions about law school scholarships
• Summary of law school scholarships
• Upcoming scholarships

Keep on reading to learn about how you can get scholarships and financial aid to pay for law school!

Top scholarships for law school students in 2021

$500 WiseGeek Law No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree, JD, or is interested in pursuing either in law
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: December 1, 2021

Don H. Liu Scholars Program

• Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents of Asian descent who are enrolled full-time as a 1L in a J.D. program at an ABA-accredited and approved law school in the U.S. with financial need. Applicants must intend to practice in the private sector in the New York City metropolitan area following graduation
• Amount: $15,000
• Deadline: November 15, 2021

Cabaniss Johnston Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students who are second year law students and residents of the state of Alabama
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: June 3, 2022

When There Are Nine Scholarships Project (WTAN Scholarship)

• Eligibility: Women with demonstrated financial need who have been accepted to an ABA-accredited J.D. program
• Amount: $10,000 per academic year. Recipients will be assigned mentors for support and guidance throughout their law school and early professional career
• Deadline: June 15 of each year

Other scholarships for J.D. candidates

The above scholarships are all specific for J.D. candidates, but there are other scholarships that are for graduate students in general. These graduate school scholarships are definitely worth checking out as you search for new scholarship opportunities. You can also check out our general guide to graduate school financial aid options.

How to win law school merit scholarships

As we mentioned, the majority of scholarships for law school students will be awarded by individual law schools. Here are some tips to ensure that you will be in the running for merit scholarship opportunities.

Prep for your LSAT

The LSAT is the entrance exam that law schools use in the United States. In both the law school admissions and scholarship process, the LSAT carries a lot of weight. For context, the top score possible on the LSAT is a 180.

As you are thinking about law school, you will absolutely want to spend time prepping for the LSAT and may even want to take a prep course to ensure that you are ready.

Pick the right law schools

Not all law schools award a large number of scholarships, Therefore, it is important for you to pick the right law schools that award a high percentage of students with aid. These law schools award strong financial aid packages ranging from partial scholarships to full tuition to awards that are above and beyond full tuition.

Our advice is to identify law schools where your LSAT score is about the published 75th percentile at the law school. This will give you a good idea of the schools where you are a strong candidate for merit scholarships.

You should also take a close look at the post-graduate earnings and job placement for alumni of the law school. This will help you assess how this particular JD program might pay off for you. Remember, salaries for lawyers are not alike. The average corporate lawyer is going to be taking home a much bigger paycheck than a public defender. Keep this in mind when assessing data points around starting salaries.

Don’t forget about need-based aid

Merit scholarships are only part of the equation of paying for law school. The other part of the equation is need based financial aid, which includes need based grants and student loans. This is why we recommend that every law school student applies for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

This will allow you to access federal student loans, which have more favorable terms and repayment options, as well as other types of aid like Pell Grants.

Take advantage of in-state tuition

There are over 80 public law schools that are approved by the American Bar Association, so chances are that one of your state universities has a law school.

One of the great things about public universities is that they offer discounted tuition for residents of their state! Take a look at some of these examples to see how residents save money:

Tuition rates are for the 2020-2021 academic year

In-state tuition for residents represents a large tuition discount at many colleges and universities, so this is something that you should absolutely consider.

Some states will also have tuition reciprocity agreements, so you may be able to qualify for in-state tuition as an out-of-state student.

School-specific law scholarships

• Santa Clara Law School Dean’s Fellow Scholarship – Provides up to full tuition for a student. Automatically considered upon submission of application
• University of Minnesota Law Scholarships – Awards up to full tuition for incoming students
• University of Chicago David M. Rubenstein Scholarship – Provides up to 60 full-tuition scholarships at U Chicago per year
• University of Virginia Karsh-Dillard Scholarship – Awards up to full tuition for University of Virginia law students
• Boston University School of Law Dean’s Scholarship – Awards full tuition scholarships for a select number of students
• Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz Merit Scholarship – Full tuition plus $2,500 annual stipend for select law students
• Scalia Law Scholars Early Decision Program – Students who commit to George Mason’s Scalia School of Law with Early Decision may be eligible for a full-tuition scholarship
• University of Arizona Techlaw Fellowship – Law students with a STEM background can receive full tuition plus a stipend at University of Arizona
• University of Colorado Boulder Law Scholarships – University of Colorado Boulder offers many scholarships for incoming students, and full-ride scholarships for continuing students who show promise

Frequently asked questions about law school scholarships

How hard is it to get a law school scholarship?

It is not uncommon for law schools to offer scholarships; as of 2019, 73.3% of law students were receiving some form of financial aid.  However, this doesn’t mean it’s easy to earn financial aid for law school. You’ll have to seek out opportunities and apply for them.

Oftentimes, law schools offer scholarships in the form of fellowships. Many law students work for a law firm, NGO, or land a graduate assistantship during their education. This makes law school more affordable while providing students with valuable work experience.

You can also apply for private scholarships such as the ones on this list. Another great resource is our scholarship search tool. You can use this tool to receive custom-matched scholarship opportunities that automatically update as deadlines pass and open. This way, you’ll never miss out on a potential scholarship!

When should you apply for law school scholarships?

It’s never too early or too late to apply for law school scholarships! If you are considering going straight into law school from undergrad, you can start looking at opportunities during summer before your senior year. This way, you can scope out opportunities to apply to throughout the year and start working on your essays.

But once the year starts, don’t stop applying! New opportunities open all the time, so to maximize your scholarship funds, you should check back periodically for new ones.

Does FAFSA pay for law school?

If you are applying for financial aid in law school, you will have to fill out the FAFSA. Law school students are eligible through federal student loans through the FAFSA. However, they are not eligible for Pell Grants. So, while the FAFSA is useful for applying for law school, it will not earn you direct federal funds. Your FAFSA will qualify you for institutional aid and for student loans.

How common is it to get a full ride for law school?

In general, full rides are highly uncommon in education. However, there are a few ways that students can get a full ride law school scholarship if they play their cards right. One of the best ways is to get an employer to pay for you. You can look into tuition reimbursement as an option, for example. Other law schools offer students many opportunities to earn money, whether it is through graduate assistantships or other paid opportunities.

Some law firms also partner with universities to pay for students’ education. For example, at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law, two law firms offer diversity fellowships.

Can you get a Pell Grant to pay for law school?

You cannot use a Pell Grant to pay for law school. Only undergraduate students are eligible for Pell Grants. However, many institutions offer grants for potential students. You should reach out to any law school you are interested in to see whether they offer specific grants.

Summary of top law school scholarships:

1. $500 WiseGeek Law No-Essay Scholarship
2. Don H. Liu Scholars Program
3. Cabaniss Johnston Scholarship
4. When There Are Nine Scholarships Project (WTAN Scholarship)

Upcoming law school scholarships

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Students who will be first year law students
• Amount: $15,000 over three years
• Opens: February 1, 2022

American Bar Association Legal Opportunity Scholarship

• Eligibility: Minority students entering law school in the Fall 2021
• Amount: $15,000 (up to twenty awards given out)
• Opens: February 1, 2022

Carole Bailey Scholarship

• Eligibility: Applicants enrolled or enrolling in a law school accredited by the American Bar Association who has demonstrated interest in pursuing a public service legal career and/or commitment to public service
• Amount: $5,000
• Opens: June 15, 2022

Earl Warren Scholarship

• Eligibility: Law students committed to racial justice who are entering their first or second year of full-time legal study at an accredited law school. GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, volunteer activities, and personal essays are all considered
• Amount: $30,000 ($10,000 per year for three years)

Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduates planning on a career in law. GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, financial need, volunteer activities, and essays are all considered
• Amount: $2,000 per year for four years
• Opens: November 30, 2021

Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Racial and ethnic minority students studying law
• Amount: $15,000 (10 to 20 are awarded)
• Opens: February 1, 2022

Thomas F. Black Jr. Memorial Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students who are entering their first year of law school and residents of the state of Rhode Island
• Amount: $25,000 (two are awarded)

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