Guide to 14 Scholarships for Law School 2025

Jacqueline DeMarcoUpdated January 2, 2025

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Students planning to attend law school may face sticker shock when it comes to the tuition and school fees they need to pay. Fortunately, law school scholarships can help provide some financial relief. And there are many such scholarships available.We have gathered 14 scholarships that are available. Read on to learn how law school scholarships work, where to find those that are available in 2025 and how to apply, and some specific scholarship opportunities to check out.

What Are Scholarships?

Scholarships are a form of aid that give students money to pay for school—and they do not need to be repaid. Depending on the amount of the scholarship, students may have some or all of their education costs covered. Some scholarships are granted based on need, while others are based on merit, military service, or meeting certain criteria such as volunteering for a specific cause or having a unique hobby.

Scholarships vs Grants

In addition to law school scholarships, there are also grants that students can qualify for. Grants, like scholarships, offer students free money that doesn’t need to be paid back. But while scholarships can be based on need or merit, grants are usually only based on financial need.

Scholarships vs Student Loans

Scholarships are different from student loans. Scholarships give students money to pay for their education that does not need to be repaid. Student loans are money you borrow to help pay for college and then repay over time. Students and their parents can apply for federal student loans or private student loans. Student loans have interest charges and a set repayment schedule.

Law Schools That Offer Scholarships

To help offset the cost of law school, most law schools offer scholarship opportunities to students. Some of these scholarships pay for the entire cost of attendance. Often, law school scholarships go to the most competitive applicants. While many law schools offer some sort of scholarship opportunities, it can be worthwhile to apply to law schools ranked for offering a lot of this type of aid.

Employer Scholarships for Law School

Private employers don’t typically offer scholarships for law school in the traditional sense, but they do sometimes provide financial assistance to employees who have student loan debt. A fairly common perk is for companies to help repay some or all of their employees’ student loans. Usually, this is done by offering employees an additional stipend each month up to a certain lifetime maximum (like $10,000) while they work there.

General Scholarships

To begin your scholarship search, there are some general law school scholarships available for law students to apply for. Some of them include:

1. Robert A. McNew Law Student Scholarship

Application deadline: 2025 deadline not yet announcedEligibility criteria: Must be a current law student who is a Federal Bar Association Law Student Associate Member in good standing. Academic achievement will be taken into consideration.The Robert A. McNew Law Student Scholarship is open to current law students, and the maximum award amount is $5,000.

2. 7Sage 7K Scholarship

Application deadline: 2025 deadline not yet announcedEligibility criteria: Applicants must plan to apply to American JD programs within the next three years.The winner of the 7Sage 7K Scholarship will receive a scholarship of $7,000, a pro bono 12-month subscription to 7Sage’s LSAT prep course, and a pro bono Admissions Consulting package. One runner up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

3. Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholarship

Application deadline: Currently accepting for Fall 2025Eligibility criteria: Assists STEM-Educated Individuals seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school with an interest in the advancement of diversity-minded individuals that are underrepresented in the patent law profession in the United States.The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program provides financial assistance in the form of $30,000 awards.

Law School Scholarships for Students From Underrepresented Groups

There are scholarship opportunities for law students who are members of underrepresented groups.

4. ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship

Application deadline: The application cycle for 2025 will open on February 1st and close on April 15thEligibility criteria: Must be a minority student. The American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Opportunity Scholarship is designed to assist first-year law students in the form of a $15,000 award spread out over their three years of law school.

5. ArentFox Schiff Diversity Scholarship

Application deadline: N/AEligibility criteria: Each year the firm selects up to five second-year law students with offers to join their ArentFox Schiff Summer Program to receive a $25,000 Diversity Scholarship.The scholarship is paid in two installments: $12,500 during the second-year summer and another $12,500 payable when the student returns to ArentFox Schiff as an associate after graduation.

6. Zelle Diversity in Law Scholarship

Application deadline: January 6th. 2025Eligibility criteria: Must be a law student and a member of a population historically underrepresented in the practice of lawThe Zelle Diversity in Law Scholarship is a minimum $500 award designed to help increase diversity in the legal profession.

7. NAACP's Earl Warren Scholarship

Application deadline: May 1, 2025Eligibility criteria: Must be a U.S. citizen The NAACP’s Earl Warren Scholarship awards $15,000 per year for three years to scholars that remain in good academic standing and are committed to racial justice.

8. AABA Law Foundation Scholarship

Application deadline: Feb 21st, 2025Eligibility criteria: Any current Asian or Other Pacific Islander law student is eligible to apply, but preference is given to first- and second-year law students attending San Francisco Bay Area schools.This award of up to $5,000 for up to six recipients from the AABA Law Foundation Scholarship aims to improve the future development of the Asian Pacific American bar.

9. Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: 2025 deadline yet to be announcedEligibility criteria: Must be of Hispanic heritage and a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA recipient. Minimum 3.0 GPA required.The Hispanic Scholarship Fund selects approximately 10,000 outstanding students to receive scholarships annually. Award amounts range from $500 to $5,000, based on need.

10. Islamic Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: November through March is annual cycle for applicationsEligibility criteria: Must be Muslim or an active member of the Muslim community and be enrolled full-time at an accredited university in the U.S. Minimum 3.0 GPA required.The Islamic Scholarship Fund offers scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

11. NNABA Bar Review Scholarship

Application deadline: 2025 deadline has yet to be announcedEligibility criteria: Must be Indigenous and a graduate of or a current third-year law student at an ABA-accredited law school in the U.S. The NNABA Bar Review Scholarship awards scholarships to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve or contribute to the Native American community as future leaders.

12. DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship

Application deadline: 2025 deadline has yet to be announcedEligibility criteria: Must be a rising second- or third-year law student from a historically marginalized group. The DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship awards one $10,000 and two $5,000 scholarships to recipients who demonstrate academic excellence and service to the cause of diversity.

Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students

13. ABA LGBT Public Interest Scholarship

Application deadline: Deadline not yet announced for 2025Eligibility criteria: This scholarship is intended for law students and/or recent law school graduates studying for the Bar who are either LGBTQ+ or who will be working in the LGBTQ+ space doing public interest work.This public interest law scholarship from the ABA—the ABA LGPT Public Interest Scholarship—is an award of $5,000, and aims to support work in the LGBT public interest arena.

14. The Point Foundation Scholarship

Application deadline: Not yet announced for 2025, applications generally open in SeptemberEligibility criteria: Must be enrolled or intending to enroll at an accredited college or university based in the U.S. and must be “out” as a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community.The Point Flagship Scholarship was designed to empower LGBTQ students to pursue a four-year college education in the U.S. The amount of the award is based on need.

Where to Search for Scholarships

To start your search for law school scholarships, it can be helpful to head to the financial aid office at the school you’re planning on attending. They can tell you about the school’s unique opportunities. Also, search online. The U.S. Department of Labor offers a great scholarship search tool. In addition, check federal and state agencies, community and religious organizations, and associations related to the law and the legal profession.

Applying for Scholarships

When you’re applying for scholarships, read the scholarship requirements carefully to make sure you fit the criteria. Fill out the application completely, include any requested supporting materials, and reread everything before you submit it in time for the deadline.

The Takeaway

Law school can be worth the cost thanks to the career path it can lead to. Students who want to save on tuition can apply for need-based and merit-based scholarships from the federal government, their university, and private organizations. Scholarships can be competitive, but they may provide a great opportunity to help you pay for your schooling and get started on your future career path as a lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How good does your LSAT score need to be to get a full ride for law school?

How hard is it to get law school scholarships?

What sorts of financial aid can law students qualify for?

Photo credit: iStock/AzmanL

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About the Author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a personal finance writer and editor based in Southern California. While she spends the bulk of her time writing about complex financial issues, she also tackles a variety of subjects ranging from food to fashion to travel. Her work can be found across dozens of publications such as Credit Karma, LendingTree, Northwestern Mutual, The Everygirl, and Apartment Therapy.

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