Scholarships

We offer numerous scholarships to our admitted students. These scholarships represent a three-year commitment by the School of Law, with awards guaranteed for second- and third-year students as long as recipients remain in good academic standing.

Each student is eligible to receive only one scholarship from the law school. Unless otherwise noted, in order to receive priority for the awards listed here, you must apply for admission to the law school no later than February 1, 2009, and submit your completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time. Please note that the Public Interest Law Scholarship requires a separate application.

Dean’s Scholarship

To recognize those students with outstanding academic achievement, the School of Law offers merit awards to selected, on-time admitted applicants. These decisions are made through a committee process and take into consideration factors such as leadership skills, years of work experience and overcoming adversity.

Public Interest Law Scholarship

As one of the nation’s leading public interest law schools, we are committed to developing a community of intelligent, thoughtful and inspired lawyers. To this end, the law school and its graduates developed the Public Interest Law Scholarship (PILS) Program in 1999. Our most generous award program, this 100 percent tuition scholarship is granted to several admitted applicants each year. Prospective students interested in this scholarship must complete the by the specified deadline and apply early to the law school.

Social Justice Scholarship

Those applicants who have demonstrated a deep commitment to social justice and a solid academic background are eligible for Social Justice Scholarships, which include both a merit award and one co-op stipend to be used for a public interest co-op. Weight is given to years of work experience in fields that promote social justice and/or significant volunteer work in those areas. There are no strict numeric criteria for this scholarship; funds are awarded based on the quality and experience of the applicant pool.

Peace Corps and Teach For America Scholarships

The goals of the Peace Corps and Teach For America are a natural match with the mission of the School of Law. Many alumni/ae from these organizations wish to pursue a law degree to advance social justice and make a difference in society. In order to support their continued efforts, the law school has developed two targeted scholarship programs to help offset the cost of pursuing a legal education. The Peace Corps and Teach For America scholarships, which include a $5,000 to $8,500 award as well as a $3,000 stipend to be used for a public interest co-op, are guaranteed to all applicants who have served their full commitment to either program and have been admitted to the law school. (The law school also waives the application fee for those applicants involved with these programs.)

Designated Law Scholarships

Designated Law Scholarships (DLS) are awarded to first-year students based on need. Recipients of this institutionally funded program are not required to repay this award. The Office of Financial Aid determines all DLS award decisions. To be eligible, you must be an admitted student and file your FAFSA by the February 15 deadline.

Endowed Scholarships

A variety of modest need-based scholarships are awarded annually to upper-level students; some of these scholarships have very specific eligibility criteria. The application process for these named scholarships is separate and distinct from the application for financial aid. More information on the endowed scholarship application process is available.