Law school is expensive—there’s no sugarcoating it. Between tuition, textbooks, housing, and bar exam prep, it’s easy to rack up six figures in debt. But the good news? A wealth of law school scholarships and fellowships are available to help lighten the financial load. Whether you’re a top academic performer, come from an underrepresented background, or plan to pursue public interest law, there’s funding out there for you.
Here’s a curated list of the best law school scholarships and fellowships for 2025 that you shouldn’t overlook.
Top Law School Scholarships for 2025
Paying for law school doesn’t have to mean drowning in student loan debt. The legal field offers a wide range of law school scholarships in 2025 designed to reward academic excellence, promote diversity, and support those pursuing public interest law. Whether you’re just applying or already enrolled, these scholarships can provide critical financial relief and boost your career trajectory.
Below are some of the most competitive and high-impact scholarships law students should explore in 2025:
1. American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Opportunity Scholarship
- Award: $15,000 over three years
- Eligibility: First-year law students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds
- Why It’s Worth It: One of the ABA’s flagship diversity initiatives, this scholarship not only helps cover tuition but also connects recipients with influential mentors in the legal community.
- Application Tip: Highlight your commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession.
2. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s Earl Warren Scholarship
- Award: $10,000 annually for up to three years
- Eligibility: Law students committed to civil rights and social justice work
- Standout Feature: Recipients often gain access to internships and mentorships at the NAACP LDF
- Who Should Apply: Those planning careers in civil rights, constitutional law, or social advocacy
3. Sidley Austin LLP Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
- Award: $30,000
- Eligibility: Diverse 2L students participating in Sidley’s Summer Associate Program
- Why It Stands Out: This BigLaw firm not only offers financial support but also a pipeline to full-time employment.
- Bonus: Includes access to firm resources, networking events, and mentorship
4. ArentFox Schiff Diversity Scholarship Program
- Award: $20,000 plus a summer associate position
- Eligibility: First-year law students from historically underrepresented groups
- Firm Focus: Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement and a commitment to promoting diversity within the legal profession
- Deadline: Typically January each year
5. MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program
- Award Range: $2,000–$10,000
- Eligibility: Latinx students enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. law school
- Mission: Support students dedicated to advancing the civil rights of Latinos in the U.S.
- Application Tip: Emphasize your community involvement and interest in public service law
- Award: Up to $90,000 in funding over two years
- Eligibility: Immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate degrees, including JDs
- Competitive Edge: Highly prestigious and supports personal and professional development beyond tuition
7. California Bar Foundation 3L Diversity Scholarship
- Award: $7,500
- Eligibility: Diverse 3Ls preparing to take the California Bar Exam
- Use of Funds: Covers bar exam fees, living expenses, and prep courses
- Tip: Open to students attending ABA-accredited law schools in California
These top law student scholarships are competitive, but they offer substantial rewards—not just financially, but also in terms of professional exposure and career support. Applying early, customizing your personal statement, and aligning your goals with the scholarship’s mission can significantly improve your chances.
Don’t wait until you’re in law school—many of these scholarships accept applications during your admissions process or 1L year. Keep an eye on deadlines and prepare strong application materials to stand out.
Prestigious Law Fellowships to Consider
If you're aiming to make a meaningful impact in the legal world—especially in public interest, social justice, or academia—law school fellowships can be a powerful stepping stone. These prestigious programs offer far more than financial support: they provide mentoring, career placement, and entry into influential legal networks.
Here are some of the top law fellowships in 2025 you should strongly consider:
1. Skadden Fellowship Foundation
- Funding: Full salary and benefits for two years
- Eligibility: 3Ls, judicial clerks, and recent law grads pursuing public interest law
- Overview: Often dubbed the “legal Peace Corps,” the Skadden Fellowship is one of the most coveted public interest fellowships in the U.S.
- How It Works: Applicants must develop a legal project in partnership with a host nonprofit organization serving underserved populations.
- Why It Matters: Skadden Fellows are often fast-tracked into leadership roles within public interest law.
2. Equal Justice Works Fellowship
- Funding: Full salary and loan repayment support
- Eligibility: Law students and recent grads committed to social justice and legal service work
- Key Features: Applicants propose a project that addresses an unmet legal need, typically in areas such as housing, education, immigration, or civil rights.
- Host Organizations: Must be nonprofits or legal aid groups; fellows often remain with their host post-fellowship.
- Bonus: Partners with top law firms, corporations, and foundations to sponsor fellows
- Funding: $50,000–$60,000 annually
- Eligibility: Recent law graduates or early-career attorneys
- Mission: Designed for those pursuing innovative social justice projects that break new ground in impact litigation or systemic reform.
- Ideal Candidates: Legal professionals with bold ideas and the skills to implement them
- Focus Areas: Labor rights, technology and privacy, economic justice, environmental law
4. Soros Justice Fellowship
- Funding: Up to $120,000 over 18 months
- Eligibility: Attorneys, advocates, journalists, and others working on criminal justice reform
- Unique Element: Open to both law grads and non-lawyers
- Notable Projects: Sentencing reform, police accountability, reentry support, and alternatives to incarceration
- Sponsored By: Open Society Foundations
5. Bertha Justice Fellowship
- Funding: Varies by host organization; generally a two-year placement
- Eligibility: Recent law graduates committed to public interest law and human rights
- Host Organizations: Located globally—fellows are placed in top legal NGOs such as the Center for Constitutional Rights or EarthRights International
- Career Impact: Offers strong exposure to international law, environmental justice, and transnational litigation
6. Law and Public Service (LPS) Fellowship – UVA Law
- Funding: Full tuition + living stipend
- Eligibility: Admitted students at the University of Virginia School of Law who are dedicated to careers in public service
- Bonus: Includes exclusive coursework, internship funding, and alumni mentorship
7. Peggy Browning Fellowship
- Funding: $7,000–$8,000 summer stipend
- Eligibility: 1Ls and 2Ls with a demonstrated interest in workers' rights
- Host Organizations: Labor unions, worker centers, and public interest law firms
- Why It’s Unique: A specialized program aimed at strengthening the next generation of labor lawyers
Pro Tip: How to Stand Out in Fellowship Applications
- Develop a Unique Project Proposal: For fellowships like Skadden and Equal Justice Works, your legal project must fill an existing gap in services. Be strategic and data-driven.
- Show Impact: Quantify your past public service work and demonstrate how you’ll expand access to justice.
- Build Strong Partnerships: Host organizations are key—choose one that aligns with your values and complements your project.
- Apply Early: Fellowship deadlines often fall in the fall of your 3L year. Begin planning in your 2L summer.
Scholarships Offered by Law Schools Themselves
In addition to national scholarships and private foundation awards, many ABA-accredited law schools offer their own generous scholarship programs. These institutional scholarships often make the difference between attending a top-tier law school or settling for a less competitive option due to cost. In fact, law school-funded scholarships are often the most substantial and accessible forms of aid, especially for high-performing or mission-driven students.
Here’s what you need to know about scholarships offered directly by law schools in 2025—and a few standout programs worth exploring.
Types of Law School Scholarships
Law schools typically offer three main categories of internal scholarships:
- Merit-Based Scholarships
- Awarded based on academic excellence (GPA, LSAT scores, class rank)
- Often awarded at the time of admission
- May be renewable annually if you maintain a minimum GPA
- Need-Based Scholarships
- Determined by financial need using FAFSA and/or CSS Profile
- May require separate application or supplemental documentation
- Often combined with grants or work-study for a full aid package
- Specialized or Named Scholarships
- Sponsored by alumni, law firms, or endowments
- May require demonstrated interest in a specific area of law (e.g., environmental, public interest, IP)
- Can include mentoring, networking, and externship opportunities
Top Law School Scholarship Programs
Most top law schools offer generous merit-based and need-based scholarships, often automatically considered during the admissions process. Here are some standout examples:- NYU Law Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarships
- Full tuition + public service programming
- Harvard Law Public Service Venture Fund
- Supports entrepreneurial public service projects
- UCLA Law Achievement Fellowship Program
- Full-tuition for high-achieving, underrepresented students
Tip: Visit your prospective law school’s financial aid page and ask about internal scholarships for incoming 1Ls and continuing students.
Tips for Winning Competitive Law Scholarships and Fellowships
- Apply Early and Often
Many awards have early deadlines. Don’t wait until you’re admitted to law school—some scholarships are open during application season. - Tailor Your Personal Statement
Align your goals with the mission of the organization offering the scholarship. Show your passion and how you'll use your legal education to make a difference. - Leverage Your Network
Ask professors, mentors, and legal professionals for letters of recommendation—and advice on which opportunities to pursue. - Demonstrate Financial Need and Academic Excellence
Some scholarships prioritize financial hardship, others emphasize GPA, LSAT scores, or leadership. Know your strengths and highlight them clearly. - Track Deadlines Religiously
Keep a spreadsheet to manage application requirements, due dates, and decision timelines.
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Final Thoughts
Winning a law school scholarship or fellowship can dramatically reduce your student debt and open doors to prestigious legal opportunities. From full-tuition awards to public interest fellowships, there’s no shortage of funding for driven, mission-aligned future attorneys.
Start applying early, aim high, and don’t leave money on the table—these are the best law school scholarships and fellowships you shouldn’t miss.
