Funding Opportunities for Aspiring and Current Law Students
Note: This directory provides general scholarship information for aspiring and current law students. Scholarship deadlines and eligibility criteria may change each year. Please visit each organization’s website for the most up-to-date details.
Bright New Beginnings was born out of my desire to provide a space for those considering law school to access guidance, resources, and inspiration. Over the years, I’ve shared tools, tips, and insights to help students navigate the complexities of law school, career planning, and financial wellness. I started compiling some of these resources into a Google Doc and, at the urgency of some of my mentees, I decided to share through a website. In a nutshell, this is why this blog site exists.
In California and throughout the United States, law school tuition is expensive. I have heard from many that they would like to go to law school but they can’t attend because they don’t have wealth, come from a family with wealth, or they’re the first in their families to go to college and feel like law school is out of reach.
I’m here to tell you that if graduating from law school is truly your goal, then you should seriously consider pursuing that goal. While law school is expensive, there are ways to finance it so that you can, hopefully, avoid taking on massive student loan debt. Unfortunately, federal law has changed in 2026 and there are now loan limits that will harm those who would otherwise use large loan amounts to finance their legal education. Loans helped me and had they been capped during my time, I’m not sure if I would have been able to afford law school. It feels like now, more than ever before, law school applicants and students need to be as aggressive in their pursuit for scholarships just as they are aggressive in pursuing admission to law programs.
Scholarships are one strategy to make law school more financially accessible by helping you pay for tuition, books and materials, living expenses, and bar preparation. To help you research where to look for scholarships, I created this Law School Scholarship Directory!
This Law School Scholarship Directory provides you with a launching point to learn about and start tracking scholarships that you can apply to either before law school, during law school, or after law school to prepare for the bar exam.
In this guide, you’ll find a list of scholarships tailored for law students, especially those from historically underrepresented communities in the legal field, and a few for pre-law students who are undergraduate or college students who will later apply to law schools. I’ve included scholarship opportunities from legal-related non-profit organizations, bar associations, and also law firms that offer funding for students who demonstrate their passion and commitment to the legal profession through essays and personal statements.
Before we dive in, a quick disclaimer: This directory is meant to provide helpful information, but applying for a scholarship doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive it. Although I’m an attorney, please note that nothing in this guide should be considered legal advice. Downloading or using this guide does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
Organizations can often change their funding cycles based on a variety of factors so be sure to visit their websites for the most up-to-date information about their scholarship requirements and deadlines.
I am so excited to be part of your journey. If you ever need additional guidance, you can reach out to me via my blog at www.BrightNewBeginnings.blog, on Instagram, or LinkedIn.
You can also purchase my workbook, Do You Want To Be A Lawyer? if you want to reflect on your passions, interests, and career goals, explore legal career paths, or get networking tips. (But if cost is a barrier, message me and I’ll share with you!)
Good luck and happy scholarship searching!
Nationwide Scholarships for Law Students
These scholarships are generally open to students enrolled (or who will enroll) at an ABA-accredited law school in the United States. Many are offered by bar associations, legal foundations, and advocacy groups working to diversify the legal field.
American Association for Justice
If you are interested in being a civil trial lawyer, then you should check out the American Association for Justice. The association offers a law student membership and law student members are eligible to apply to AAJ’s two scholarships. They also host a Student Trial Advocacy Competition.
Leesfield Law Student Scholarship: This $1,50 scholarship award is open to a first- and second-year law student to subsidize the Law Student Member’s attendance at the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) Annual Convention. To be eligible for the scholarship, th applicant must be an AAJ Student Member, be enrolled in an ABA-approved law school, and complete the application package, which includes a 500-word essay outlining the applicant’s commitment to preserving the civil justice system and up to three (3) letters of recommendation. Applications for the 2027 scholarships have not yet opened. Learn more here.
Law Student Convention Scholarships: The AAJ-NPLA Law Student Convention Scholarships are intended to support AAJ Law Student members by discounting convention registration and providing a travel stipend to help them attend the AAJ Annual Convention. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in an ABA-approved law school. The application window for the 2026 scholarships has already closed. Learn more here.
The American Bar Association’s Legal Opportunity Scholarship awards $15,000 over three years to 20–25 incoming first-year law students who are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. The 2027 application period opens on February 1, 2027, and applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on April 15, 2027. Learn more here.
The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program supports aspiring patent lawyers by providing up to $30,000 in law school tuition grants, mentorship, professional development, and other financial assistance to applicants with a qualifying STEM background who plan to attend an ABA-accredited U.S. law school and are interested in advancing diversity in the patent law profession. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with early admission by December 15, tuition grant priority by January 31, and a final application deadline of March 31 for students planning to begin law school that year. Find the application here.
Ms. JD awards Public Interest Scholarships and the Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship to first- and second-year law students (or third-year part-time students) pursuing summer internships in public interest or civil rights law, helping offset the financial burden of unpaid or low-paid public interest work. Applicants are automatically considered for both scholarships through a single application. You can join their mailing list to be notified when applications open, which is typically in the early part of the year and applications being due in the spring (May 1st in the past). Learn more here.
The Earl Warren Scholarship awards $15,000 per year for three years (up to $45,000) to rising first- and second-year full-time law students at accredited U.S. law schools who demonstrate a strong commitment to racial justice and show outstanding potential to become civil rights and public interest attorneys. Applications open around November 30 and are due on or about May 1 each year; recipients may also apply for LDF internships, externships, and guided research opportunities.
The SEO Law Impact Scholarship awards one $10,000 scholarship and two $5,000 scholarships to incoming law students who have demonstrated leadership, resilience, and a commitment to making a meaningful contribution to the legal profession and society. Applicants must be applying to law school during the current admissions cycle, plan to enroll at an ABA-accredited law school, and applications are due around March 1 each year. Learn more here or follow @SEOLawProgram on social media for updates and application information.
The Susman Godfrey Prize awards $5,000 and ongoing mentorship to up to 25 first- and second-year law students of color at select law schools who have demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding achievement, and who are nominated by a law school faculty member or administrator. Nominations are due around February 17 each year, with finalists interviewed by April 1 and recipients notified by May 1. Learn more on the law firm’s website.
The Diversity in Law Scholarship awards $1,500 to students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds who have been accepted to or are enrolled in an accredited law school or paralegal program and submit an essay describing how their legal education will benefit their community. Applications are due around July 25 each year, and the scholarship recipient is selected by August 1. Learn more here.
Swenson & Shelley Scholarship:
Swenson & Shelley Law awards one $1,000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships to pre-law undergraduate students and incoming first-year law students who are U.S. citizens or authorized to work in the United States, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and submit an essay about the area of law they intend to pursue. Applications are due around June 5 each year, and scholarship recipients are notified on or about June 28. Learn more on the law firm’s website.
Scholarships for California Law Students
These scholarships are generally opened to students enrolled (or who will enroll) at an ABA-accredited law school in California or in specific parts of California. Many are offered by bar associations, legal foundations, and advocacy groups working to diversify the legal field. Be sure to review the eligibility requirements.
Bay Area Underserved Law Student Scholarship Program
The Bay Area Underserved Law Student Scholarship Program awards scholarships of approximately $10,000 per year to underserved and underrepresented students who have been admitted to participating Bay Area law schools, including UC Berkeley, Stanford, UC Law San Francisco, Santa Clara, and the University of San Francisco. The 2026 application cycle is closed; prospective applicants should check the Justice & Diversity Center’s website for information about future application periods.
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (BWL) Foundation – Law Student Scholarship
The Honorable Justice Vaino H. Spencer Scholarship supports second- and third-year law students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, community service, and financial need. The scholarship honors Justice Vaino H. Spencer’s trailblazing legacy of advancing opportunities for women and people of color in the legal profession; check the BWL Foundation’s website for the latest application deadlines and eligibility requirements.
The Dolores Randolph Bauer Memorial Scholarship is awarded to second- and third-year law students who have demonstrated academic achievement, community service, and financial need. The scholarship honors Dolores Randolph Bauer’s commitment to public service and the legal profession; check the BWL Foundation’s website for current application deadlines and application information.
The Vera Brown-Curtis Hayes Memorial Scholarship supports second- and third-year law students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, community service, and financial need. The scholarship honors Vera Brown-Curtis Hayes’ lifelong dedication to serving low-income communities and advancing access to justice; check the BWL Foundation’s website for the most up-to-date application deadlines and eligibility information.
The Next Gen Scholars Program provides one of the most comprehensive scholarship and leadership development opportunities available to aspiring California lawyers. Selected scholars receive $50,000 in scholarship funding over three years of law school ($15,000 annually plus a $5,000 bar exam stipend), along with leadership training, mentorship, career development, wellness programming, and a statewide cohort experience designed to prepare the next generation of legal leaders. The program is open to incoming full-time law students who have applied to an accredited California law school, plan to practice law in California, and demonstrate financial need. ChangeLawyers seeks applicants who have shown resilience, a commitment to serving under-resourced communities, and a desire to create positive change in California. Applications open in late January and are due around March 26 each year, with finalists participating in interviews before scholars are announced in June
California Lawyers Foundation & Labor and Employment Law Section
The Summer Law Scholarship awards up to $8,000 to law students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in practicing labor and employment law and have secured a non-compensated or undercompensated summer position in a labor or employment-related legal setting. The scholarship is intended to help support persons of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups pursuing careers in labor and employment law. Applications were due March 31, 2026. Check the California Lawyers Association’s website for updates on future application cycles.
East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association
The Public Interest Law Summer Stipend provides multiple awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 to law students completing unpaid summer internships with nonprofit organizations, legal aid offices, government agencies, or courts. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, a commitment to social justice, academic achievement or leadership, be EBLRLA members, and preference is given to students with ties to Alameda or Contra Costa Counties and those without other funding for their summer placement. The stipend helps make unpaid public interest legal work more financially accessible. Check EBLRLA’s website for future application deadlines and eligibility requirements.
Equal Justice Works’ Regional Public Interest Awards
The Regional Public Interest Awards recognize eight law students each year who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to public interest law through clinics, volunteer service, internships, and other advocacy efforts. Each recipient receives a $250 cash award and a commemorative plaque in recognition of their innovation, impact, and dedication to serving underserved communities. Applications for the 2026 awards are closed, and the 2027 application cycle is expected to open in the spring. Visit EJW’s website for future applications and eligibility requirements.
Latina Lawyers Bar Association Scholarship
The Latina Lawyers Bar Association (LLBA) is a bar association in Los Angeles County committed to supporting Latinas throughout their legal careers. The Latina Lawyers Bar Association Scholarship Program awards scholarships to California law students to help cover the costs of attending law school. Applicants must be California residents or domiciled in California, demonstrate financial need, community service, a commitment to the Latina community, and the desire to become leaders in the legal profession. Scholarship finalists are invited to interview before recipients are selected and recognized at the Latina Lawyers Bar Association Annual Awards and Scholarship Dinner. Applications typically open in mid-July and close in mid-August.
This application is currently open now from July 16 to August 17, 2026! Learn more here.
Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company Scholarship Program
The Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company/Daily Journal First-Generation Student Scholarship supports full-time law students attending an accredited California law school who are the first in their families to pursue a four-year college degree and a legal career. The program awards a $5,000 first-place scholarship, a $2,500 second-place scholarship, a $1,500 third-place scholarship, and seven $500 honorable mention awards to students who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and a commitment to the legal profession through internships, volunteer work, or leadership. Applicants must submit transcripts, a résumé, and an essay describing how their first-generation background has shaped their goals and how they plan to use their legal education to create meaningful change. The essay submission period typically opens in mid-November and closes on February 1, with finalists announced in late March and recognized in a special Daily Journal publication in April.
The scholarship is open to students who attend eighteen (18) law schools throughout California: California Western School of Law, Chapman University Fowler School of Law, Golden State University School of Law, Loyola Law School, Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law, Santa Clara University School of Law, Southwestern School of Law, Southwestern Law School, Stanford Law School, University of California Berkeley School of Law, University of California Davis School of Law (King Hall), University of California Law, San Francisco, UCLA School of Law, University of San Diego School of Law, University of San Francisco School of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, and Western State College of Law at Westcliff University.
Be sure to check the Daily Journal’s website for future applications, updated deadlines, and eligibility requirements.
Mexican American Bar Foundation (MABF) Scholarship
The Mexican American Bar Foundation Annual Scholarship Program awards scholarships of up to $10,000 to law students attending ABA-accredited law schools in Los Angeles (Loyola, Southwestern, UCLA, and USC). Applicants are evaluated based on financial need, academic achievement, leadership, community service, life experiences, and their personal statement, with additional consideration given to first-generation college and graduate students. The Foundation’s mission is to remove barriers to success in the legal profession and support students who demonstrate a commitment to serving their communities and advancing diversity in the legal field. Applications are typically due in early February, with selected finalists invited to interview in March before scholarship recipients are recognized at the Foundation’s annual Scholarship & Awards Gala in May. Learn more here.
Women Lawyers of Los Angeles Foundation
The Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship awards $7,500 to law students who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing social justice, equality, and inclusion, particularly on issues affecting women, children, people of color, and other historically marginalized communities. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited law school, rank in the top 50% of their class, plan to continue their legal education during the following academic year, and intend to practice law or perform legal work that serves Los Angeles County after graduation. The scholarship recognizes students who have combined academic excellence with a strong commitment to public service. Applications are typically due April 30. Learn more here.
Women Lawyers of Sacramento Scholarships
All scholarship awards are up to $2,500.
Margaret A. Flynn Scholarship: According to the website, “The Margaret A. Flynn Scholarship is awarded to a financially needy first or second year law student who has engaged in exemplary community service.” Applications are due April 3, 2026. Access the application here.
Frances Newell Carr Scholarship: According to the website, “The Frances Newell Carr Scholarship is awarded to a financially needy first or second year law student with an outstanding academic record. Special consideration is given to candidates who have overcome personal adversity.” Applications are due April 3, 2026. Access the application here.
Karen Pederson Stevens Scholarship: According to the website, “This scholarship will be awarded to a financially needy student who is currently a first or second year law student (or third year in a four-year program). The successful candidate will have an interest in pursuing a legal career in family law and/or has assisted women and/or children (i.e. dissolution process, adoptions, etc.). Special consideration will be given to individuals who have a desire to start their own family law practice.” Applications are due April 3, 2026. Access the application here.
Women Lawyers of Sacramento Scholarship: This scholarship supports a 1L or 2L student, or a 3L student in a 4 year program, who demonstrates financial need and whose achievements match the association’s commitment to advance the position of women in law and society. Applications are due April 3, 2026. Access the application here.
One of the things I appreciate most about the Women Lawyers Association of Sacramento’s scholarship page is that it doesn’t just list awards—it tells stories.
Each scholarship is named after a founding member or past president of WLAS—women who helped open doors in the legal profession when those doors were not easily opened. They were advocates, leaders, and trailblazers in their own right.
Reading about their journeys is a reminder that the path many of us walk today was paved by women who showed up with courage and conviction.
If you’re applying for scholarships, take a few extra minutes to read about the women behind these awards. Their stories are powerful—and inspiring.
Bar Exam Support Scholarships
These opportunities generally help graduating law students cover bar exam fees, prep courses, and living costs during study months.
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (BWL) Foundation – Bar Grant
The BWL Foundation also offers a Bar Grant to support graduating law students who need financial assistance to prepare for the California Bar Exam. Applications and supporting documents must be emailed to bwlscholarship@gmail.com by 5:00 PM (PST) on Monday, March 15, 2026.
California Change Lawyers
3L Scholarship: According to the website, the “2026 cycle is paused as design a new and improved program for 2026.” In the past, this scholarship supported law students committed to becoming legal changemakers, recent law schools graduates, or soon-to-be-law grads who were going to take the California Bar Exam for the first time. Awards reached up to $5,000. Stay tuned on their website for updates.
California Lawyers Association Labor and Employment Law Section & California Lawyers Foundation
The Bar Studies Scholarship awards $3,000 to outstanding law students and recent graduates enrolled at a California law school or an ABA-accredited law school in California who have demonstrated a commitment to practicing labor and employment law. The scholarship helps offset the costs of preparing for the California Bar Exam, including bar examination fees and bar preparation courses, and is intended to support applicants from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing careers in labor and employment law. Applications were due March 31, 2026 for those preparing for the July 2026 or February 2027 California Bar Exam. Check the California Lawyers Association’s website for future application announcements.
East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association (EBLRLA)
The Piedad and Raul Castro Scholarship awards one $5,000 scholarship to a graduating law student preparing for the California Bar Exam who has demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and a commitment to using the law to advance social justice. Applicants must be EBLRLA members and have significant ties to or plan to practice in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties. The scholarship honors the sacrifices of immigrant families and supports future attorneys dedicated to serving their communities. Check EBLRLA’s website for future application deadlines and application information.
EBLRLA awards one $5,000 scholarship to a first-time California Bar Exam applicant and up to three $1,000 scholarships to applicants retaking the California Bar Exam. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, academic achievement or leadership, a commitment to advancing social justice through the law, and be EBLRLA members with significant ties to or plans to practice in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties. These scholarships are intended to help offset the costs of preparing for the California Bar Exam. Check EBLRLA’s website for future application deadlines and eligibility requirements.
The Diversity Bar Study Scholarship awards two $5,000 scholarships to law graduates preparing for the California Bar Exam who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in litigation for social justice. Applicants must be registered for the California Bar Exam, demonstrate financial need, leadership, and resilience, be EBLRLA members, and have significant ties to or plan to practice in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties. The scholarship is intended to support future litigators from diverse backgrounds as they begin their legal careers. Check EBLRLA’s website for future application deadlines and eligibility requirements.
Latina Lawyers Bar Association
Latina Lawyers Bar Association (LLBA) offers a bar stipend to outstanding law students to use towards the expenses related to preparing for the California Bar Examination. The bar stipend application is open to California residents or those domiciled in California who are applying for admission to the California State Bar; demonstrate community service; demonstrate overall commitment to the Latina community; demonstrate desire and commitment to be a leader in the legal professional; and demonstrate financial need. The application deadline was April 25, 2025. Stayed tuned to their website for updates.
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Foundation
The 3L Bar Exam Next Gen Scholarship awards $5,000 to a third-year law student preparing for the California Bar Exam who plans to practice law in Los Angeles and has demonstrated a commitment to issues affecting women, children, people of color, or other historically marginalized communities. Offered in partnership with California ChangeLawyers, the scholarship helps offset bar preparation expenses while supporting future attorneys dedicated to advancing equity and justice. Check the WLALA Foundation’s website for future application dates and eligibility requirements.
Virginia S. Mueller Scholarship: This bar scholarship is available for third year day or fourth year evening students who will soon take the California bar examination. According to the website, “Special consideration is given to candidates who have worked to expand opportunities for historically disadvantaged persons, including women.” All scholarships are up to $2,500. Applications are due April 3, 2026. Access the application here.
Pre-Law Scholarships
These scholarships are generally open to undergraduate or gap-year students preparing to applying to law school, and select few are open to high school students.
Scholarships for College Students or College Graduates
The Overcoming Challenges Together Scholarship awards $2,500 to an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at a U.S. college, university, or graduate school who submits an original video describing how their family overcame challenges and how those experiences shaped their educational or career goals. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in the United States, and be in good academic standing; applications are due November 15, 2026
Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship: According to their website, “the mission of the Herbert Lehman Education Fund is to help transform the promise of racial equality into a social, economic, and political reality by supporting talented undergraduate students with financial need to stay in school and successfully complete their bachelor’s degree.”
National Latino/a Law Students Association (NLLSA)
NLLSA offers one pre-law scholarship for college students or college graduates who have not yet enrolled in law school. The deadline to apply to the AccessLex Institute Scholarship ($500 award) is March 6, 2026. Details here.
Scholarships for High School Students
The Ninth Circuit is a part of the federal court system. The circuits are based on geography and California and several other states and territories are in the Ninth Circuit.
If you are a high school students attending any type of secondary school including home school, public school, or private school and you live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington state, the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, then you are eligible to participate in the Ninth Circuit Civics Contest. This contest requires that you respond to a prompt about civics. You may respond to the prompt by either video or essay. This contest usually opens at the beginning of the year.
In 2026, the application is due March 6, 2026 and there are three cash prizes for the winners ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Learn more about the civics contest here.
Women’s Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Foundation
WLALA Foundation offers the 2026 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship. According to WLALA’s website, “[t]his scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who identifies as a woman, who is interested in the field of law or public service, and who was inspired in this career choice by the WLALA Foundation’s Power Lunch Program, the WLALA organization, or by a WLALA leader.” The scholarship recipient will receive up to $5,000. The scholarship application deadline is April 30, 2026.
Scholarship Search Tools
You should continue searching for scholarships besides those listed here. As a reminder, you should use this directory as a starting point, as it is not an exhaustive list. Use these databases or lists to find additional scholarships for law students or law graduates preparing for the bar exam:
- AccessLex Institute: Law School Scholarship Databank – A comprehensive resource offering a wide range of scholarships for law students. Learn more here.
- American Bar Association: Academic Scholarships for Young Lawyers and Law Students – The ABA’s website provides information on ABA entity-sponsored scholarships. Learn more here.
- College Board: Big Future Scholarship Search – A large scholarship database. In the filters, you can filter “Academic Stage” to “Postgraduate Law School” to search for scholarships open to law students. Learn more here.
- Immigrants Rising: List of Scholarships and Fellowships – This is a great list of scholarship and fellowship opportunities that do not require proof of U.S. citizenship. Learn more here.
- Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF) Scholarship Resource Guide – MALDEF publishes a list of scholarships for students in various resources, including law. Learn more here.
Want to Make a Financial Plan That Supports Your Dreams of a Legal Career?
Finding scholarships is just one part of the journey – planning how to pay for law school, bar prep, and your early legal career is next.
That’s why I created Financial Planning for Aspiring and New Lawyers – a practical workbook designed to help you:
- Understand the true cost of law school – tuition, living expenses, and bar prep
- Find and track scholarships and grants to minimize debt
- Build a personalized budget that aligns with your life and career goals
- Plan ahead for bar exam expenses and your first year as a lawyer.
Get the workbook here and start building a plan that turns your law school dreams into long-term financial stability.
Get Updates From Me
I sometimes learn of scholarship opportunities on social media and may repost some of these opportunities to my channels. Be sure to follow me on LinkedIn or Instagram to see my posts.
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