Diversity Scholarships

There are a number of diversity scholarships available to law students. Below are some of the many scholarships available.

African-American Law Student Scholarships

African-American Law Student Fellowship
Sponsor: The National Bar Institute
Description: Applicants must have demonstrated a commitment to creating equality and justice for African-Americans through work in their law schools, their neighborhoods and community and intend to return to a Black community to practice law.
Contact: 202/842-3900
http://www.nationalbar.org

Congressional Black Caucus
1004 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003

202-263-2800
Criteria: Awarded to African American students only. This is a nine month research program designated to prepare minority graduate and professional students for senior level careers in the legislative arena.
Deadline: May
www.cbcfinc.org/CBC%20Spouses/Scholarship/

Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
1707 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

Awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are given to members of Delta Sigma Theta. Aid is based on meritorious achievement. Winners may also be eligible for other types of financial assistance.
Deadline: March

Earl Warren Legal Training Program, Inc. – Public Interest Law Scholarships
99 Hudson Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10013
212.219.1900
Awards of $1,500 per year for three years (plus a $2,500 summer intern grant) are available to African American law students who are U.S. citizens and who pledge to work one year in the field of public interest law for every year of financial backing provided. Preference is given to needy applicants who are under 35 years of age.
Deadline: March
http://www.naacpldf.org/

Herbert Lehman Scholarship for African-American Law Students
Sponsor: NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
Description: this program is open to African Americans who are students at law schools where African Americans are significantly underrepresented. U.S. citizenship is required.
Contact: 212/965-2225
Mbagley@naacpldg.org
http://www.naacpldf.org
Deadline: Applications must be requested by February

National Association of Black Women Attorneys
724 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 206
Washington, DC 20001

202.637.3570
First-and second-year black, female students may apply for scholarships of varying amounts offered to outstanding law students. Winners are selected based on an essay contest, the subject of which focuses on an issue of contemporary concern.
Deadline: February

Mandela Law Scholarship
National Black Law Students Association
www.nblsa.org/resources/scholarships/
c/o LaTanya Funches
9919 S. Union Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628

Criteria: Applicants must be studying law. Students who are entering law school or are in their first year of law school are eligible.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November

Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship
National Black Law Students Association
www.nblsa.org/resources/scholarships/
c/o LaTanya Funches
9919 S. Union Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628

Criteria: Two monetary awards will be given commemorative of Ms. Brown. Applicants must be a rising second or third year law student, and submit an essay on the specified topic.
Amount: Not less than $500
Deadline: November

Sherman & Sterling and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Criteria: Awarded to African American students entering law school with financial need, academic achievement, and personal commitment to the legal profession and public service. Scholarship is renewable.
212/965-2225
Mbadley@naacpldf.org
http://www.naacpldf.org
Amount: $13,500
Applications must be requested in writing between November, and February.
Deadline: March

American Indian Law Student Scholarships

All Indian Pueblo Council Higher Education Scholarship
P.O. Box 3256
Albuquerque, NM 87190

(505) 884-3820

American Indian Graduate Center
AIGC Fellowship
4520 Montgomery Blvd. NE Suite 1-B
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505.881.4584
Applicant must be an enrolled member of a U.S. federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaskan Native group, or possess 1/4 degree Indian blood, must be (or will be) pursuing a masters or doctorate degree as a full-time graduate student at an accredited school in the U.S., and must apply for federal financial aid at the college financial aid office. Awards vary and are based on unmet need.
Deadline: June
http://www.aigcs.org/fellowship-application/eligibility.asp

American Indian Scholarships
Sponsor: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Description: To be eligible, an applicant must be a member of a federally-recognized tribe; at least one-fourth degree Indian; attending an accredited graduate or professional school as a full-time graduate student; and pursuing a graduate/law degree.
Contact: 505/265-8335
American Indian Scholarships, Inc.
5106 Grand Avenue, NE.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
http://www.oiep.bia.edu/

Association on American Indian Affairs, Inc.
Adolph van Pelt Scholarship
245 Fifth Ave. Suite 1801
New York, NY 10016-8728
212.689.8720
Scholarships of $500-$800 are available to Native American students who will use their training to help the advancement of the Native American population. Both academic achievement and financial need are considered. Applicants must have at least 1/4 Native American ancestry.
Deadline: May
http://www.indian-affairs.org/scholarships/adolph_van_pelt.htm

California Indian Law Association
ATTN: Allogan Slagle Scholarship Fund
UCLA School of Law
P.O. Box 951476
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1476
The California Indian Law Association, a non-profit organization incorporated under tribal law and devoted to advancing the field of Indian law, the Indian law legal profession, and tribal justice system personnel in California, is offering the Allogan Slagle Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. The scholarship is available to American Indian and Native Alaskan law school students. Applicants must be full-time students. The award will be based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and community involvement.
Deadline: February
http://www.calindianlaw.org/news/

Cheyanne-Arapaho Tribal Scholarship
Teresa Doresett / Wanda Miller
P.O. Box 38
Concho, Ok 73022
(405) 262-0345; (800) 247-4612

Cherokee Nation Graduate Scholarship
Higher Education Program
P.O. Box 948
Talequah, OK 74465

918.456.0671 or 800.256.0671
Members of the Cherokee Nation who are enrolled full time are eligible to apply. The amount of the award is $250- $500 per semester. Priority is given to those who have never received a Cherokee Nation award.
Deadline: May
http://www.cherokee.org/home.aspx?section=services&service=Education&ID=gjyXSyl14DM=

Hopi Tribal Priority Scholarship
Sponsor: Hopi Tribe
Description: This program is open to enrolled members of the Hopi Tribe. They must be college juniors or seniors or graduate students whose degree is in a subject area that is of priority interest to the Hopi Tribe.
Contact: 928/734-3533
IPolingyumptewa@hopi.nsn.us
Fax: (928) 734-9575
Hopi Tribe Attn: Office of Education
P.O. Box 123
Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039
Deadline: July
http://www.hopi.nsn.us/education_htgsp.asp

Howard Rock Scholarship
1577 C Street, Suite 304
Anchorage, AK 99501

Lawrence Matson Memorial Endowment Fund Scholarships
Sponsor: Cook Inlet Region, Inc.
Description: This program is open to Alaska Native enrollees under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of (ANCSA) of 1971 and their lineal descendants of Cook Inlet Region, Inc.
Contact: 907/263-5582
tcf@ciri.com
http://www.ciri.com/tcf/designated.html
Deadline: May

Native American Education Grant
Presbyterian Church, USA
Financial Aid for Studies
100 Witherspoon Street – M065
Louisville, KY 40202
Awards are made available to Native Americans pursuing full-time post-secondary education who demonstrate financial need. The range of awards is from $200 to $2,500 depending upon demonstrated need and the availability of funds. Preference will be given to Presbyterian Church members studying at the undergraduate level, although the award is not restricted to Presbyterians.
Deadline: June
http://www.pcusa.org/financialaid/programs/nativeamericanedugrant.htm

Navajo Nation Graduate Trust Fund and Fellowship
Sponsor: Navajo Nation
Description: This program is open to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation who are enrolled or planning to enroll as graduate or postgraduate students. Preference is given to applicants who are studying in fields designates as priorities on a biennial basis.
Contact: 520/871-7640
onnsfacentral@navajo.org
http://www.onnsfa.org/gradfund.asp
Deadline: April

North Dakota Indian Scholarship
State Capitol, 10thFloor 600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505

Office of Indian Education
Office of Indian Education Fellowship Program
Department of Education
1250 Maryland Ave. SW, Room 4300
Washington, DC 20024
202.401.1916 or 202.401.1887
State or Federally recognized Tribal Members working on a Law degree are eligible for an award based on need.
Deadline: January
http://www.oiep.bia.edu/

Seneca Nation of Indians Scholarship
P.O. Box 231
Salamanca, NY 14779

(716) 945-1790

Sequoyah Fellowship Program (AAIA)
245 Fifth Ave., Suite 1801
New York, NY 10016-7877

212.689.8720
$1,500 stipend offered to federally recognized Tribal member who is a graduate student in any field.
Deadline: September
http://www.indian-affairs.org/scholarships/sequoyah.htm

Special Scholarship Program in Law for American Indians
Sponsor: American Indian Law Center
Description: For American Indians and Alaska Natives of one quarter or more Indian blood quantum of federally recognized tribes.
Contact: 505/277-3922; (505) 277-5462
American Indian Law Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 4456 Station A
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Fax (505) 277-1035
http://lawschool.unm.edu/ailc/contact-us.php

Truman D. Picard Scholarship
Intertribal Timber Council
4370 N.E. Halsey Street
Portland, OR 97213

United South & Eastern Tribes Scholarship
711 Stewarts Ferry Pike Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37214VII.

Asian Pacific American Law Student Scholarships

APAHC Scholarships
Sponsor: Asian Pacific American Heritage Council
Description: This program is open to Asian Pacific Americans who are seniors in high school or already in college and are working on or are interested in working on an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the following fields: business, education, finance, law.
Contact: 301/983-1845
http://www.apahc.org/APAHCScholar.htm
Deadline: March

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation (NAPABA)
1341 G Street, NW, 5th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.626.7693
Two $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve or contribute to the Asian Pacific American community as future leaders. Selections are based on demonstrated commitment to and interest in pro bono, public interest and/or public service legal work, financial need, leadership potential, maturity and responsibility and commitment to serving the needs of the Asian Pacific American community.
Deadline: September
http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code+scholarships

Presidential Anheuser-Busch Scholarships
Sponsor: National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Description: This program is open to students at accredited law schools in the United States. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential to serve the Asian Pacific American community upon graduation.
Contact: 202/626-7693
foundation@napaba.org
http://www.napaba.org
Deadline: September

Japanese American Law Student Scholarships

Japanese American Bar Scholarship
Sponsor: Japanese American Bar Association
Description: Open to students currently enrolled in law school. Applicants must demonstrate an intention to practice law in southern California. Selection is based on participation in the Asian Pacific American community, academic achievement, and financial need.
Contact: 213/624-8697
Bmorinaka@aol.com
http://www.jabaonline.org
Deadline: December

Sho Sato Memorial Scholarship
Sponsor: Japanese American Citizens League
Description: This program is open to JACL members who are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in law school. Applicants must submit a statement describing their present level of involvement in the JACL or Asian Pacific community and continuing involvement.
Contact: 415/921-5225
jacl@jacl.org
1765 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Deadline: March
http://www.jacl.org/leadership_development_5.php

Thomas T. Hayashi Memorial Scholarships
Sponsor: Japanese American Citizens League
Description: This program is open to JACL members who are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited law school, submitting a statement describing their current involvement in the JACL or Asian Pacific community and how they will continue involvement.
Contact: 415/921-5225
1765 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94115

jacl@jacl.org
http://www.jacl.org
Deadline: March

Korean-American Law Student Scholarships

Korean-American Scholarship Foundation: KASF Scholarships
Award: Not specified
Deadline: June
http://www.kasf.org/

Hispanic-American Law Student Scholarships

Bristol-Myers Squibb PRLDEF Corporate Legal Fellowship
Sponsor: Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
Description: This program is open to first and second year law students of color who are interested in preparing for a career in corporate law. Students who complete the internship successfully and demonstrate academic excellence are eligible for a scholarship.
Contact: 800/328-2322; 212/219-3360 ext. 223
education@prldef.org
http://www.prldef.org/education.htm
Deadline: November

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Scholarship opportunity is afforded to Latino students who have a history of performing public service-oriented activities in their communities and who plan to continue contributing in the future
Eligibility Criteria: Consistent active participation in public and/or community service activities Demonstrated financial need Good writing skills Full-time enrollment in an accredited community college, four-year university, or graduate/professional program during the period for which scholarship is requested U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency
911 2nd Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-543-1771; 800-EXCEL-DC
Fax: 202-546-2143
$5,000 to attend a graduate-level academic institution
Deadline: Various
http://www.chci.org/chciyouth/scholarship/scholarship.htm

Dominican Bar Association Scholarship
P.O. Box 1535
New York, NY 10013

A scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded by the Dominican Bar Association to first, second or third year students. This scholarship will be awarded based upon applicant’s involvement in the Latino community, academic and personal achievement, and financial need.
Deadline: January

Dominican Women’s Caucus Scholarship
Contact: Dominican Women’s Caucus
812 West 181st Street
New York, NY 10033

Phone: (212) 568-9540 Fax: (212) 568-2499
www.dwcaucus.org
Description: Two-page essay on how recipient would use future profession to benefit community.
Eligibility: – Women of Dominican descent
Deadline: March

Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
http://www.prldef.org/legal_education/scholarships.html
99 Hudson Street
14th Floor
New York, NY 10013-2815
800-328-2322, 212-219-3360
Criteria: All Latino’s attending law school in the United States (including Puerto Rico) are eligible. Awarding based on financial need and academic promise.
Amount: $2,000-may vary
Deadline: February

Hispanic National Bar Association Scholarship Fund
Sponsor: Hispanic National Bar Association
Description: Applicant must be a United States citizen, or a permanent resident of Hispanic parentage, who has completed 1 year of law school prior to submission of this application.
Contact: Daniel A. Vigil, Selection Committee Chairman,
University of Colorado school of Law,
Campus Box 401
Boulder, CO 80309
http://www.hnba.com/

Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
55 Second Street, Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94105
877.473.4636; 415-445-9930
info@hsf.net
College Scholarship Program: Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,500. Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage, be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, must apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), have completed 12 units at a U.S. accredited institution, and be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program at a U.S. accredited institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam.
Deadline: October
www.hsf.net

La Unidad Latina Foundation scholarships
Sponsor: La Unidad Latina Foundation
Description: Scholarship opportunities for graduate students.
Contact: 359 Prospect Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215

foundation@launidadlatina.org
http://foundation.launidadlatina.org/Apply.htm
Deadline: February & October

Latino Lawyers Association Law School Scholarship Fund
c/o Maribel Medina
333 South Hope Street, 38th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
The LLA Law School Scholarship Program each year awards scholarships to deserving Latino students entering their first, second, or third year of law school. The scholarships are awarded to Latino students based upon three primary factors: demonstrated commitment to work with the Latino community, financial need, and academic achievement.
Deadline: June

LULAC National Scholarship Fund
Sponsor: League of United Latin American Citizens
Description: Scholarship opportunities for graduate students.
Contact: 911 2nd Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

202-543-1771; 800-EXCEL-DC
Fax: 202-546-2143
http://www.chci.org/chciyouth/scholarship/scholarship.htm

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Law School Scholarship Program
634 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213.629.2512; 202.293.2849
Numerous $2,000 – $6,000 law school scholarships are awarded to Latino students who are enrolled full-time in their first, second or third year of law school. Selection is based on demonstrated involvement with and commitment to serving the Latino community; academic and professional achievement; and financial need.
Deadline: Various
www.maldef.org/education/scholarships.htm

MANA Scholarship
Contact: Mexican American Women’s National Association (MANA)
1725 K Street, NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 833-0060 Fax: (202) 496-0588
hermana2@aol.com
www.hermana.org/medfrm.htm
Description: Eligibility: – Female; MANA member; Latina; Commitment to Hispanic women’s progress and development; Academics; Financial need.
Deadline: February

National Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Selection Committee
1400 Grant Avenue, Room 203-A
Novato, CA 94945
415.892.9971
Awards ranging from $500-$1,000 are awarded to full-time, day-time Hispanic students. Personal strengths, academic achievement, leadership and financial need are considered in the selection process.
Deadline: October

Patton Boggs LLP. National Council of La Raza Law Student Scholarship
Patton Boggs will be awarding a $10,000 scholarship to underwrite a first-year Hispanic law student in summer employment aimed at furthering the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) mission to advance career opportunities for Hispanic Americans.
2550 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-457-6000
Fax: 202-457-6315
http://www.pattonboggs.com/diversity-scholoarships/

Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF)
Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship
99 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013-2815
212.219.3360 or 800.328.2322
The Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) Scholarship Award is $2,000. The PRBA is intended to ensure that students of color have full and equal access to the legal profession. All first and second year Latino students attending law school in the United States are eligible to apply. PRBA selects recipients based on financial need and academic promise. Students working toward their LL.M. are not eligible for this award.
Deadline: March

LGBT Law Student Scholarships

The Point Foundation (TPF)
P.O. Box 565
Genoa, NV 89411

The application process is open to all LGBT students nationwide regardless of level of education. Individual scholarship amounts range from $5,000 to $28,000 per year. All point scholars sign a Contract of Excellence, agreeing to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, provide official transcripts, support TPF’s vision, speak at TPF events, maintain contact with the TPF Board of Trustees, and give back to the LGBT community through completion of an individual service project.
Deadline: March

An Uncommon Legacy Foundation, Inc.
Scholarship Committee
150 West 26th Street, Suite 503
New York, NY 10001

212.366.6507
Awards of $1,000 are available to lesbian graduate students enrolled at an accredited college or university. Consideration will be given to academic performance, honors, personal or financial hardship and service to the lesbian/gay community.
Deadline: May