As I signed my promissory note for my loan for the first year of law school, only one word came to my head: DEBT. Signing this guarantees that you will pay it back (plus interest) once you graduate from law school. In reality, this means that you’re guaranteeing that you will pass all of your exams, and ultimately graduate from what will probably be the biggest challenge you will have academically, and then go through the grueling and competitive process of finding a job.

So I did something I have never, ever, ever done before. I looked for scholarships. I signed up for the scholarship sites: ScholarshipExperts.com, FastWeb, etc. While they had really good resources for undergrad, it was difficult for me to find scholarships for a first year law student.

So I researched. And researched, and searched and searched some more. This was taking forever. My coffee was getting cold, my butt was falling asleep from sitting for so long, and I was seriously starting to freak out. But I was making progress.

After a few hours, I had a nice little list. I’m not going to tell you exactly which ones I applied for (that would lessen my chances!), but here’s what I’ve got so far. These are just the ones from Bar Associates across the U.S.

Asian American Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around February 1.
Eligibility: Current law students.
Award: Up to three $1,000 awards.
Criteria: Community service in the Asian/Pacific Islander communities.
Sponsor: Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (CA).

BESLA Scholarship
Deadline: around September 15.
Eligibility: Minority 2Ls and 3Ls with class or experience in entertainment or sports law.
Award: Multiple awards of $1,500.
Sponsor: Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association.

William A. McClain Scholarship
Deadline: around April 1.
Eligibility: Black law students who are residents of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Criteria: Demonstrated leadership, commitment to community, and financial need.
Sponsor: Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati (OH).

Columbian Lawyers Association Scholarships
Include the CLAW, Carl A. Vergari, Thomas Bisordi, and Generoso Pope scholarships.
Deadline: around October 15.
Eligibility: Law students who are residents of Westchester County, New York.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Italian descent, academic achievement, financial need, aspirations and goals.
Sponsor: Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County (NY).

Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association Scholarships
Include the CHBA Primary Scholarship and CHBA Health Law Scholarship.
Deadline: around Sept. 15.
Eligibility: Law students with a strong connection to the Latino community and the state of Connecticut.
Award: Varies.
Sponsor: Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association.

Dominican Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around April 1.
Eligibility: Entering and current Latino law students.
Award: Multiple awards of up to $1,000 each.
Criteria: Demonstrated involvement in and commitment to service the Latino community through the legal profession, academic and personal achievement, financial need.
Sponsor: Dominican Bar Association.
Justice Pauline Davison Hanson Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 1L and 2L women who are current or former residents of the Fresno, California, area.
Award: $2,000.
Criteria: Academic achievement, extracurricular and community involvement, financial need, demonstrated leadership.
Sponsor: Fresno County (CA) Women Lawyers, 559-432-5400.

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois Scholarship
Deadline: around September 15.
Eligibility: 2Ls and 3Ls who are Illinois residents.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, involvement with the Greek community.
Sponsor: Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois.

Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois Scholarships
Deadline: around March 1.
Eligibility: Latino law students.
Award: Multiple awards of up to $2,500.
Criteria: Academic achievement, financial need, commitment to the Latino community.
Sponsor: Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois.

Hispanic National Bar Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: around October 15.
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident, accepted to law school, 3.0 or higher GPA, of Hispanic heritage.
Award: Usually $1,000-$5,000.
Sponsor: Hispanic National Bar Foundation.

Iranian American Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around December 15.
Eligibility: Current law students.
Award: Multiple awards of up to $1,000.
Criteria: Academic and extracurricular achievement, commitment to the advancement of the Iranian-American community.
Sponsor: Iranian American Bar Association.

Italian American Bar Association of Michigan Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: 2Ls and 3Ls.
Award: Varies.
Sponsor: Italian American Bar Association of Michigan.

Italian American Lawyers Association Scholarship
Deadline: around September 15.
Eligibility: Italian American law students who intend to practice in the area of Los Angeles County, California.
Award: $2,500.
Criteria: Academic achievement, potential contribution to the Italian-American community, financial need. Preference to contributing members of the Italian American Lawyers Association.
Sponsor: Italian American Lawyers Association (Los Angeles, CA).

Japanese American Bar Association Scholarships
Deadline: around January 15.
Eligibility: Law students.
Award: Up to three awards of $1,500 each.
Criteria: Participation in Asian Pacific American community, financial need, overcoming adversity, academic achievement, desire to practice law in Southern California.
Sponsor: Japanese American Bar Association of Greater Los Angeles (CA).

Kern County Women Lawyers Association Scholarship
Deadline: around March 1.
Eligibility: Current law students.
Award: $250-$3,000.
Criteria: Ties to Kern County, California; financial need; academic achievement; concern for society.
Sponsor: Kern County (CA) Women Lawyers Association, 616-636-4830.

La Raza Lawyers Scholarships
Eligibility: Latina / Latino law students from different areas of California.
Virtually all of the 18 affiliate La Raza Lawyers Associations in California offer scholarships to Latina and Latino residents of their geographical locations who are currently enrolled in law school. Awards range up to $2,500.
Sponsor: Affiliate groups of La Raza Lawyers of California.

La Raza Lawyers of San Joaquin Scholarship
Deadline: around December 1.
Eligibility: Currently enrolled law students; preference to Latino students with a relationship to California’s Central Valley.
Award: Up to $2,000.
Criteria: Academic achievement, financial need, leadership ability, involvement in the Latino community.
Sponsor: La Raza Lawyers Association, San Joaquin Valley (CA) Chapter.

La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County Scholarship
Deadline: around September 15.
Eligibility: La Raza law students from the Bay Area of California.
Award: 3 awards of $2,500.
Criteria: Community involvement, school activities, financial need.
Sponsor: La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County (CA).

La Raza Lawyers of Santa Cruz Scholarship
Deadline: around June 1.
Eligibility: Currently enrolled Latino law students originally from Santa Cruz County, California.
Award: Up to $2,000.
Criteria: Financial need, academic achievement, community involvement, school activities.
Sponsor: La Raza Lawyers Association, Santa Cruz (CA) Chapter.

Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarships
Deadline: around June 1.
Eligibility: Entering law students from disadvantaged backgrounds; must be U.S. citizens.
Award: Ten awards of $10,000 a year for 3 years, plus mentoring and support in locating 1L summer employment with a corporate law department.
Criteria: Academic promise, financial need, interest in diversity, leadership, community service.
Sponsor: Minority Corporate Counsel Association.

Scovel Richardson Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: Current 1Ls and 2Ls who are minority students with limited financial means.
Award: $2,500-$3,000.
Criteria: Financial need, academic achievement, community service. Preference to students who plan to work in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.
Sponsor: Mound City (MO) Bar Association.

NAPABA Law Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: around September 1.
Eligibility: Enrolled law students.
Award: Several awards of $2,500-7,500.
Criteria: Demonstrated commitment to and interest in pro bono, public interest, or public service legal work, financial need, leadership potential, maturity and responsibility, and commitment to serving the needs of the Asian Pacific American community.
Sponsor: National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

National Bar Institute African American Law Student Fellowships
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 3Ls who intend to return to the Black community to practice law after law school
Award: $1,000-$10,000.
Criteria: Academic qualifications; contribution potential; commitment to African American issues; financial need.
Sponsor: National Bar Institute.

National Italian American Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around August 15.
Eligibility: Student members of the NIABA.
Award: Up to three awards of $1,000.
Criteria: Scholastic ability, character, activities, and financial need.
Sponsor: National Italian American Bar Association.

Northwest Indian Bar Association / WSBA Indian Law Section Scholarship
Deadline: around November 15.
Eligibility: Native law students intending to work in the field of American Indian or Alaska Native law or policy in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, or the Yukon Territory.
Award: Several scholarships of $1,00-$1,500.
Sponsors: Washington State Bar Association Indian Law Section and the Northwest Indian Bar Association.
For more information: Contact Gabriel Galanda at 206-628-2780 or ggalanda@wkg.com.

Northwest Indian Bar Association / WSBA Indian Law Section Bar Exam Scholarship
Deadline: around May 15.
Eligibility: May graduates registered for the July Washington bar exam.
Award: Several scholarships of $500-$1,000.
Sponsors: Washington State Bar Association Indian Law Section and the Northwest Indian Bar Association.
For more information: Contact Gabriel Galanda at 206-628-2780 or ggalanda@wkg.com.

Orange County Asian-American Bar Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: Law students in good standing. No preference is given on account of ancestry, national origin, or other factors not related to merit.
Award: 2 awards of $1,000.
Criteria: Community involvement, legal service to community, financial need.
Sponsor: Orange County (CA) Asian American Bar Foundation.

Wally Davis Scholarship
Deadline: around February 1.
Eligibility: Hispanic law students from Orange County, California. Entering students must have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA; current law students must rank in top 1/2 of class.
Award: 3 law school awards of $3,250; 2 bar exam awards of $525; 1 bar exam Bar/Bri tuition award of up to $3,000; 1 summer externship award of up to $4,000.
Criteria: Involvement in Latino community and law school.
Sponsor: Orange County (CA) Hispanic Bar Association.

Orange County Women Lawyers Association Bar Scholarship
Eligibility: Students preparing to take the California Bar Exam who plan to practice in Orange County.
Award: $1,000 for February and July exams.
Sponsor: Orange County (CA) Women Lawyers Association; call for application.

Oregon Minority Lawyers Association / Oregon State Bar AAP Bar Exam Grants
Deadline: around April 15 and November 15.
Eligibility: Graduating law students / law school graduates who are (1) members of any racial or ethnic minority, (2) have financial need, (3) have a commitment to practice law in Oregon and advance the mission of the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program, and (4) have registered with the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program.
Award: Three grants for February exam, plus six grants for July exam. Grants consist of reimbursement of bar application fee and payment of expenses for bar preparation course focusing on MBE testing.
Sponsor: Oregon Minority Lawyers Association and the Oregon State Bar.

J.L. Turner Minority Law Student Scholarships
Deadline: around September 15.
Eligibility: Minority law students, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, from the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas.
Award: Varies by scholarship.
Criteria: Both merit-based and need-based.
Sponsor: J.L. Turner Legal Association.

Ventura County Asian American Bar Association Scholarships
Deadline: around January 15.
Eligibility: Presently enrolled law students with a connection to Ventura County, California.
Award: Multiple awards of $500-$2,000.
Criteria: Interest and commitment to serving Asian American community.
Sponsor: Ventura County (CA) Asian American Bar Association.

Ruth Rabstein Scholarship
Deadline: around April 15.
Eligibility: Entering and current women law students with ties to Mercer County, New Jersey.
Award: $1,500.
Criteria: Financial need, academic achievement, community service.
Sponsor: Women Lawyers’ Caucus of Mercer County (NJ), 609-984-0231.

Akron Bar Association Scholarships
Deadline: around April 15.
Eligibility: Entering or current law students.
Award: Not specified.
Criteria: Financial need, affiliation with Summit County, Ohio, and history of community involvement
Sponsor: Akron (OH) Bar Association.

Haneman-Perskie Memorial Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: Entering and current law students who are residents of Atlantic County, New Jersey.
Award: Varies; scholarships are renewable.
Criteria: Academic ability, financial need, leadership potential, character.
Sponsor: Atlantic County (NJ) Bar Association.

BLSA Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: Idaho residents attending Idaho schools and pursuing a degree in law, pre-law, paralegal, or legal secretary/assistant studies.
Award: around $300.
Criteria: GPA, goals, and needs.
Sponsor: BLSA (formerly Boise Association of Legal Secretaries).
For more information: Contact Carolyn Pucket at 208-939-0005.

Bronx County Bar Association Scholarships
Include the Hon. Alexander Delle Cese and Craig Lensch Memorial scholarships.
Deadline: around February 15.
Eligibility: Law students domiciled in Bronx County, New York.
Award: Two scholarships of $2,000 each.
Criteria: Academic merit, financial need, writing sample, personal interview.
Sponsor: Bronx County (NY) Bar Association.

Harold and Harriet Plum Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: around February 15.
Eligibility: Law students.
Award: $1,000.
Criteria: Scholastic achievement, financial need, and commitment to the South Jersey area.
Sponsor: Camden County (NJ) Bar Association.

Daniel B. Toll Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: around February 15.
Eligibility: 1Ls or 2Ls who are residents of South Jersey.
Award: $1,000.
Criteria: Financial need, commitment to South Jersey area.
Sponsor: Camden County (NJ) Bar Association.

Chicago Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowships
Include the Kimball R. Anderson & Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship and the Chicago Bar Foundation Sun-Times Public Interest Law Fellowship.
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 3Ls and recent graduates, with educational debt of at least $50,000, who have accepted employment in Chicago Bar Foundation-funded public interest law organizations.
Award: Up to six awards of up to $50,000 in loan repayment assistance grants, paid in installments over 6–10 years.
Criteria: Commitment to public interest work, academic achievement, outstanding character and integrity.
Sponsor: Chicago (IL) Bar Foundation.

Cole County Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around July 1.
Eligibility: Law students who are residents of Cole County, Missouri.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Academic achievement, financial need.
Sponsor: Cole County (MO) Bar Association.
For more information: Contact Kimberly Shields at 573-638-2128.

County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey Scholarships
Include the Harris Y. Cotton, Oscar W. Rittenhouse, Andrew K. Ruotolo, Jr., and John M. Stamler scholarships.
Deadline: around June 15.
Eligibility: New Jersey residents accepted to law school.
Award: Up to $2,500 each.
Criteria: Differ by scholarship.
Sponsor: County Prosecutor’s Association of New Jersey.

Joseph H. Gellert Scholarship
Deadline: around April 15.
Eligibility: Residents of Dutchess County, N.Y. who have completed at least one year of law school.
Award: $1,000.
Sponsor: Dutchess County (NY) Bar Association.

Erie County Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around June 15.
Eligibility: 2Ls and 3Ls who are residents of Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Award: Varies according to application pool.
Criteria: Several factors including need.
Sponsor: Erie County (PA) Bar Association.

Chief Justice Samuel J. Roberts Scholarship
Deadline: around May 15.
Eligibility: Entering 1Ls and current law students who are residents of Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Award: Varies according to application pool.
Criteria: Financial need, academic achievement, and applicant’s career statement.
Sponsor: Erie County (PA) Bar Association.

Biunno Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: Entering and current law students who are New Jersey residents with a physical or mental disability.
Award: Varies.
Sponsor: Essex County (NJ) Bar Association.

Federal Bar Association / Western Michigan Chapter Scholarship
Eligibility: Entering and current law students with permanent residence, or prior legal employment, in Western Michigan.
Award: Up to 3 awards of $1,500.
Criteria: Academic achievement, leadership ability, and commitment to community service.
Sponsor: Federal Bar Association, Western Michigan Chapter.

Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: around April 15.
Eligibility: Residents of Hudson County, New Jersey accepted into or attending law school.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Financial need, academic progress.
Sponsor: Hudson County (NJ) Bar Foundation.

Kane County Bar Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: Law students who are residents of Kane County, Illinois.
Award: Two awards of $2,000 each.
Sponsor: Kane County (IL) Bar Association.

Mercer County Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around July 1.
Eligibility: Law students who are residents of or have strong ties to Mercer County, New Jersey.
Criteria: Ties to Mercer County, community involvement, and financial need.
Sponsor: Mercer County (NJ) Bar Association.

Middlesex County Bar Scholarships
Eligibility: Residents of Middlesex County, New Jersey accepted to or attending law school.
Award: Both grants and loans are available in varying amounts.
Sponsor: Middlesex County (NJ) Bar Foundation.

Monroe County Bar Association Scholarship
Eligibility: Accepted or current law students who have graduated from a high school in Monroe County, Michigan and who maintain residency in Monroe County.
Award: $500.
Sponsor: Monroe County (MI) Bar Association.
For more information: Contact Scholarship Committee, 734-242-3434.

Nassau Lawyers Association Scholarship
Deadline: around May 15.
Eligibility: Residents of Nassau County, New York, accepted to or enrolled in law school.
Award: $1,000/year up to three years.
Sponsor: Nassau Lawyers Association of Long Island.

Honorable Timothy C. Evans Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: Entering and current law students who reside in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Academic achievement, involvement in school and extracurricular activities, financial need.
Sponsor: Northwest Suburban (IL) Bar Association.

Philip Tanis Scholarship
Deadline: around March 1.
Eligibility: Law students who are residents of Passaic and Bergen Counties, New Jersey.
Award: Up to $1,000.
Criteria: Financial need, academic achievement.
Sponsor: Passaic County (NJ) Bar Association.

Peoria County Bar Association Diversity Scholarship
Deadline: around March 1.
Eligibility: Racial and ethnic minority students who are entering or current 1Ls.
Award: $1,000, renewable for 2 additional years.
Criteria: Financial need, educational background, and ties to the community of Peoria, Illinois.
Sponsor: Peoria County (IL) Bar Association.

Queens County Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: Current law students who are domiciled in Queens County, New York.
Award: $1,000.
Criteria: Financial need, commitment to community service, academic achievement.
Sponsor: Queens County (NY) Bar Association.

James N. Kincanon Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: Residents of Roanoke, Virginia with GPA of 3.0 pursuing a legal education.
Sponsor: Roanoke (VA) Bar Association.

Mary Brady Scholarship
Deadline: around June 1.
Eligibility: Entering 1Ls who are residents of, or graduated from high school in, Sandusky County, Ohio.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Character, interest in promoting understanding of the law, interest in practicing in Sandusky County, academic achievement.
Sponsor: Sandusky County (OH) Bar Association, through the Columbus (OH) Foundation.

Saratoga County Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around November 1.
Eligibility: 2Ls and 3Ls who are residents of Saratoga County, New York.
Award: Two awards of $1,000.
Criteria: Class rank, leadership, community involvement, and financial need.
Sponsor: Saratoga County (NY) Bar Association.

South Suburban Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around October 1.
Eligibility: Law students who reside or intend to practice in the south suburbs of Cook County, Illinois.
Award: $1,500.
Sponsor: South Suburban (IL) Bar Association.

Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Scholarship
Deadline: around April 1.
Eligibility: 2Ls and 3Ls.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Positive factors include domicile in or ties to the Southwest Missouri region and/or an interest to reside in Southwest Missouri.
Sponsor: Springfield (MO) Metropolitan Bar Association.

Tulsa County Bar Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: around June 1.
Eligibility: Entering 1Ls in the top 50% of the LSAT who have a significant connection to Tulsa County.
Award: Up to $2,500, renewable.
Criteria: Connection with Tulsa County, Oklahoma; financial need; academic record; extracurricular record; commitment to law; character;, and life experience.
Sponsor: Tulsa County (OK) Bar Association.

Waterbury Bar Association Scholarships
Include the Waterbury Bar Association, Bar President’s, and Edward Traurig scholarships.
Deadline: around April 15.
Eligibility: Current law students who are residents of Connecticut’s Waterbury Judicial District.
Award: $1,000-$1,500.
Sponsor: Waterbury (CN) Bar Association.

Wolverine Bar Association Scholarships
Deadline: around January 1.
Eligibility: Michigan residents enrolled in law schools outside Michigan.
Sponsor: Wolverine Bar Association.

Wood County Bar Association Memorial Scholarships
Deadline: around April 1.
Eligibility: Law students with a connection to Jackson, Pleasant Wirt, or Wood Counties in West Virginia or Washington County in Ohio.
Sponsor: Wood County (WV) Bar Association, through the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.

Cabaniss, Johnston Scholarship
Deadline: around June 1.
Eligibility: 1Ls; permanent residents of Alabama.
Award: Up to $5,000.
Criteria: Academic achievement, financial need, and ethical standards.
Sponsor: Alabama Law Foundation.

Roxana C. Arsht Fellowships
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 3Ls and recent law school graduates who accept positions with non-profit organizations providing legal services that benefit the Delaware community or underrepresented groups or indigent persons in Delaware.
Award: Varies.
Sponsor: Delaware State Bar Association.

Monna Mawson Scholarship
Deadline: around March 15.
Eligibility: Idaho resident attending an Idaho school in legal studies; must be enrolled and have completed first year of studies.
Award: $400.
Criteria: GPA, goals, and financial need.
Sponsor: IDALS (Idaho Association for Legal Professionals).
For more information: Contact Staci J. Hoven at staci_jean02@hotmail.com or 208-512-0060.

Oregon Minority Lawyers Association / Oregon State Bar AAP Bar Exam Grants
Deadline: around April 15 and November 15.
Eligibility: Graduating law students / law school graduates who are (1) members of any racial or ethnic minority, (2) have financial need, (3) have a commitment to practice law in Oregon and advance the mission of the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program, and (4) have registered with the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program.
Award: Three grants for February exam, plus six grants for July exam. Grants consist of reimbursement of bar application fee and payment of expenses for bar preparation course focusing on MBE testing.
Sponsor: Oregon Minority Lawyers Association and the Oregon State Bar.

Thomas F. Black Jr. Memorial Scholarships
Deadline: around March 1.
Eligibility: Rhode Island residents.
Award: Two $10,000 scholarships.
Criteria: Financial need, academic performance, community & public service, and commitment to the State of Rhode Island.
Sponsor: Rhode Island Bar Foundation.

Northwest Indian Bar Association / WSBA Indian Law Section Scholarship
Deadline: around November 15.
Eligibility: Native law students intending to work in the field of American Indian or Alaska Native law or policy in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, or the Yukon Territory.
Award: Several scholarships of $1,000-$1,500.
Sponsors: Washington State Bar Association Indian Law Section and the Northwest Indian Bar Association.
For more information: Contact Gabriel Galanda at 206-628-2780 or ggalanda@wkg.com.

Northwest Indian Bar Association / WSBA Indian Law Section Bar Exam Scholarship
Deadline: around May 15.
Eligibility: May graduates registered for the July Washington bar exam.
Award: Several scholarships of $500-$1,000.
Sponsors: Washington State Bar Association Indian Law Section and the Northwest Indian Bar Association.
For more information: Contact Gabriel Galanda at 206-628-2780 or ggalanda@wkg.com.

ABA Business Law Scholarships
Eligibility: 1Ls and 2Ls who have participated in a CLEO pre-law summer institute program or pre-law weekend program and are members of the ABA Law Student Division.
Award: Up to 5 awards of $1,000 to attend the ABA Section of Business Law Spring Meeting.
Sponsor: American Bar Association Section of Business Law.

ABA Communications Forum Scholarships
Deadline: around November 15.
Eligibility: Law students.
Award: Full-ride scholarship to attend the Annual Conference of the ABA Forum on Communications Law. 2 or 3 scholarships are usually awarded.
Criteria: Letter should explain your interest in free speech and communications law plus an past experience you have working or volunteering in these areas.
Sponsor: American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law.

American Association for Justice Trial Advocacy Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 1Ls & 2Ls who are student members of AAJ.
Award: $2,500.
Criteria: Commitment to AAJ and its mission through involvement AAJ student chapter activities, desire to represent victims, interest and proficiency in trial advocacy skills, financial need.
Sponsor: American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA).

Richard D. Hailey Scholarships
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 1Ls & 2Ls who are African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, and biracial, and who are also student members of AAJ.
Award: Up to six awards of $1,000.
Criteria: Interest and proficiency in trial advocacy skills, desire to represent victims, commitment to AAJ and its mission through involvement in AAJ student chapter and Minority Caucus activities, financial need.
Sponsor: American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA).

Alia Herrera Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 2Ls or 3Ls who are student members of AAJ or who are children of AAJ members.
Award: $3,000.
Sponsor: American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA).

Leesfield Scholarship
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 2Ls and 3Ls who are student members of AAJ.
Award: $1,000 to attend the AAJ’s Annual Convention.
Sponsor: American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA).

American Association of Law Libraries Scholarships
Include the AALL Educational Scholarships, the George A. Strait Minority Scholarship, and the James F. Connelly Scholarship.
Deadline: around April 1.
Eligibility: Law students with meaningful law library experience who intend to pursue a career in law librarianship. Requirements vary by scholarship.
Award: Varies.
Criteria: Preference given to AALL members.
Sponsor: American Association of Law Libraries.

American Counsel Association Scholarships
Eligibility: 3Ls nominated by the law school dean.
Criteria: Academic promise and financial need.
Scholarships are awarded on an annual rotating basis through the federal judicial districts. Check with the ACA to see if you are eligible.
Sponsor: American Counsel Association.

American Criminal Justice Association Graduate Scholarship
Deadline: around December 15.
Eligibility: Graduate students in the criminal justice field.
Award: Varies.
Sponsor: American Criminal Justice Association / Lambda Alpha Epsilon.

Sydney B. Williams Jr. Intellectual Property Law Scholarships
Deadline: around February 15.
Eligibility: Members of under-represented minority groups.
Award: $10,000 per year, renewable upon reapplication for up to three years.
Criteria: Commitment to intellectual property law, academic performance, financial need, and general factors.
Sponsor: American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation.

Attorney-CPA Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: 3Ls with a CPA certificate.
Award: 14 one-year scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.
Criteria: Commitment to accounting, academic performance, leadership in school and community, financial need.
Sponsor: Attorney-CPA Foundation.

Donald W. Banner Corporate Intern Scholarship
Deadline: around October 1.
Eligibility: Law students who (1) have completed an internship in a corporate intellectual property law department, (2) intend to pursue a career in intellectual property law, and (3) will attend law school in the following calendar year. The IPOEF maintains a list of companies with internship opportunities, but students are responsible for arranging their own internships.
Award: Two awards of $10,000 each.
Sponsor: Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation.

BESLA Scholarship
Deadline: around September 15.
Eligibility: Minority 2Ls and 3Ls with class or experience in entertainment or sports law.
Award: Multiple awards of $1,500.
Sponsor: Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association.

County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey Scholarships
Include the Harris Y. Cotton, Oscar W. Rittenhouse, Andrew K. Ruotolo, Jr., and John M. Stamler scholarships.
Deadline: around June 15.
Eligibility: New Jersey residents accepted to law school.
Award: Up to $2,500 each.
Criteria: Differ by scholarship.
Sponsor: County Prosecutor’s Association of New Jersey.

Susan J. Ferrell & Ed Edmondson Scholarships
Deadline: around May 1.
Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian law students demonstrating the need for a scholarship plus an interest in and dedication to Native American legal issues.
Award: The Ferrell Scholarship pays one award of tuition and expenses to attend Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City in late May; up to 100 tuition-only Edmondson Scholarships may be awarded for the Symposium.
Sponsors: Oklahoma Supreme Court, Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, Sovereignty Symposium, Inc., and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Chairman Robert E. Lee Scholarships and Internships
Deadline: around March 1.
Eligibility: Law students employed as unpaid summer interns in positions with the FCC and other government agencies with a connection to the communications industry (i.e., broadcasting, cable television, telephony, satellite, wireless, and information technology)
Award: Five $5,000 scholarships.
Criteria: Demonstrated interest in the communications field; having secured an unpaid summer position (internship) for at least 8 weeks in communications with a government agency; need for financial assistance to accept the internship; community activities.
Sponsor: Federal Communications Bar Association Foundation.

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: contact the Foundation at 303-321-8100 ext. 107.
Eligibility: Law students enrolled in selected law schools (including University of Idaho) with a commitment to natural resources law.
Award: $4,000-8,000.
Criteria: Potential to contribute to natural resources law, academic ability, leadership, financial need.
Sponsor: Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

WSBA Environmental and Land Use Law Section Scholarships
Deadline: around April 1.
Eligibility: Law students and lawyers who are members of the ELUL Section and who are attending the annual ELUL “Midyear” Conference in May.
Award: 15 awards of up to $500 to cover costs of attending the Midyear.
Criteria: Priority given by date of application.
Sponsor: Washington State Bar Association Environmental and Land Use Law Section.

(Source: University of Idaho)

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