In the simplest of terms, law school is expensive, and most law students need additional funds to pay for their education and their living expenses while they attend law school. For this, you need to be seeking out some of the best law school scholarships that exist, with the understanding that these law school scholarship programs are highly competitive. They are not easy scholarships to acquire.
With that said, not only should you apply for the best possible law school scholarships, but all of the lesser easy scholarships as well – those that have smaller award amounts. Many law students will only apply for the most lucrative scholarships for law school, making the lesser law scholarships less competitive.
If you are already in law school, you also need to be on the lookout for fellowship programs that exist for law students. Fellowship programs are almost always more lucrative than regular scholarships, because they come with a stipend. For example, as a female law student, you are eligible for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation Selected Professions Fellowship Program, which awards $18,000.
Because law school scholarships are so competitive, you have to look outside of this field for random scholarship opportunities as well. For example, you may be eligible for scholarships that have more to do with your heritage, age, gender, minority status and less to do with your field of study. You may be eligible for strange or weird scholarships, where fewer people are actually eligible. You may be eligible for easy scholarships from any clubs or organizations that you belong to, through your employer, or from a wide range of other sources.
Many law students will have a law firm fund their education, with the understanding that upon graduation, they will work for the firm. This is not common, but it isn’t necessarily uncommon either. In most of these situations, the student already works for the law firm, in some capacity. In this instance, however, there really is no application process or competition. This potentially could be the easiest law scholarship to capture
You also need to take advantage of summer internship programs through various law firms. Many of these internships are competed for, and they also provide law scholarship funds. For example, the Arent Fox, LLP Law firm awards three $15,000 law school scholarships to first year law students each year, and each of those winners will also participate in the summer associate program through the firm, either in Los Angeles, Washington, or New York.
Do not overlook unusual scholarships that are not field specific. For example, the Baker & Hostetler Diversity Fellowship Program awards a $25,000 scholarship to people from diverse backgrounds, who intend to work in the future in diverse workplaces. As you can see, it is vital to determine what all of your qualifications are and then apply for all of the unknown scholarships that meet those expectations. Do not forget to include your heritage, your academic achievements, your activities, any disabilities that you may have or a close family member may have, and more. Also look into guaranteed scholarships which are fast and easy scholarships to apply to and secure.
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One place to find out more information about the scholarships and fellowships mentioned here, as well as hundreds of other opportunities is through Admissions Dean at: law school scholarships.