Law School Scholarships
If you consider going to law school you will know that there are enourmous costs involved. Law schools are one of the most expensives facilities you can attend. This is probably why you are looking for all the available source to finance you education. There are different programs available that can help you get the financing you need.
Like with all other types of educational paths you should also allway concider the traditional and more general student grants for college which are available to all educational paths. These include goverment scholarships and grants like for example the most common Federal Pell Grant.If you belong for to a minority you could also apply for grants for women or one of many available minority grants.
If you fail to get in any of those scholarahip programs or still need more financing to pay for your application you should concider special scholarships for law schools.
Application for Law School Scholarships
A good way to start searching for some scholarships that are especially designed for law students is through the financial aid office of the school you have choosen. Most of the times your office will have special scholarships available for their students. Most of the time these scholarships are based on contributions by friends or alumni and have a very limited budget.
Like with any other scholarships or grants you first will have to show that you have a financial need that you can not cover without help. If you apply for a Pell Grant or any other federal support for college you will need to fill out the FAFSA form. Most of the schools will also base their desicion on this form. But, every school is different so before you send off the documents allways contact you school and ask about any extra or special documents that you need to fill out in order to apply.
Private Scholarships for Law School
Besides the federal support or the support of you school there are also private scholarships designed especially for students who wish to attend law school.
One of the most popular student grants for college that is designed for law students is given out by the American Bar Association. They give out grants to student in finacial needs that qualify for their programs and attend or wish to attend a law school in the United States.
This list cover some of the most popular law school scholarships:
- Alliance Defense Fund - 2,500$ awarded anually to 3 undergraduate students majoring in law.
- Earl Warren Legal Training General Scholarship – Between 3,000$ to 5,000$ awarded anually to afro-american undergraduate or graduate students majoring in law.
- Law Student Essay Competition – Between 1,000$ to 3,000$ awarded anually to 3 graduate or undergraduate students majoring in law.
- National Federation of Paralegal Associates, Inc. West Scholarship — 1,500$ to 3,500$ awarded anually to 2 graduate and undergraduate students majoring in law.
- William S. Bullinger Scholarship — 5,000$ awarded each year to 5 graduate or undergraduate students majoring in law.
Minority Scholarships for Law School
If you belong to a minority you could also apply to these scholarship designed especially for law students:
- NBLS Nelson Mandela Scholarship — $1000 awarded each year to six black undergraduate and graduate students majoring in law.
- Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship Award — 2,000$ awarded anually to 2 Latino graduate or undergarduate students majoring in law.
- Shearman and Sterling Scholarship Program — 15,000$ awarded anually to 2 black freshmen or graduate students majoring in law.
- Foley & Lardner Minority Scholarship Program — Up to 5,000$ awarded anually to 8 minority undergraduate or graduate students majoring in law.
If you have applied to both the general student grants for college like the Federal Pell Grant and these speical law school scholarships you should be way on your way to financing you education at a choosen law school. If the money still is not enough you could allways apply for student loans that are available at very fair rates and might help you to get your financing in place.