There are a number of private law scholarships, writing competitions, and awards for which law students may apply. Private scholarships can be an excellent way to help pay for your legal education. Take the time to carefully review scholarship and writing opportunities and APPLY for ones for which you are eligible or match your specific practice area or career interests. The odds are in your favor!
Below is a list of scholarships administered and awarded by outside organizations. In addition to our list, AccessLex, a non-profit dedicated to increasing access to legal education, has launched their Law School Scholarship Databank to help law students find the right scholarship for them. This interactive page allows you to filter through nearly 800 incoming and returning student scholarships and writing competitions totaling almost $300 million in aid.
Please note that deadlines and/or requirements may change, so you should consult the organization's website for the most up-to-date information. These resources represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to scholarship and writing opportunities for law students, so be sure to conduct your own searches based on your specific interests and background.
| Title | Type | Amount | # | Application Deadline | Eligibility | Notes | AAJ Trial Advocay Law Student Scholarship |
| $3000 | 1 | 2023-05-01 |
| AAJ Leesfield Law Student Scholarship |
| $1500 | y | 2023-05-01 |
| This scholarship awards $1,500 to a first- or second-year law student and is to help subsidize the Law Student Member's attendance at AAJ’s Annual Convention. | AAJ Minority Caucus Richard D. Hailey Law Student Scholarship |
| $5000 | 1 | 2023-05-01 |
| AAPJ (American Assoc. of Patent Judges) Hon. Frederick E. McKelvey Memorial Scholarship |
| $500 | 2022-05-31 |
| Aaron Wersing Employment Discrimination Scholarship Contest |
| $1000 | 2023-12-01 |
| AAUW (American Association of University Women) Selected Professions Felloweships |
| Varies | 2021-12-01 |
| $5,000 - $18,000 Fellowships, Awarded to women in one of the designated degree programs where women’s participation traditionally has been low. | ABA Aviation and Space Law Committee Annual Law Student Writing Competition |
| $2000 | 2021-09-09 |
| Email mcary@smu.edu for application materials; also posted on bulletin board in Storey Hall | ABA LGBT Public Interest Scholarship Program |
| $5000 | 2 | To be determined. |
| Eligibility specifics: the applicant must (i) be either a first, second or third year law student in good standing in an ABA accredited law school, or a recent law graduate from an ABA accredited law school still studying for the Bar Exam. (ii) have secured an internship or job for Summer 2021 (which can extend beyond the Summer) and/or the Fall of 2021 with a public interest organization engaged in legal or policy work with a direct impact on LGBTQ individuals. | ACCSFL (American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers) Writing Competition |
| $5000 | 3 | 2022-12-01 |
| See also posting on Storey Hall bulletin board | Alaska Bar Association Law School Scholarships |
| Varies | 2022-03-01 |
| Eligibility specfics: 1st or 2nd year law students who demonstrate ties to Alaska, and an intent to return to Alaska within two years of graduation. | Alexander Bolton Law Student Scholarship - Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) |
| $2500 | 1 | 2022-09-30 |
| Eligibility specifics: rising 2L or 3L who has completed at least 20 hours of SMU Dedman School of Law’s required public service hours. See 9/7/22 email from Laura Burstein for application documents and full description | Allison Soares Law School Scholarship for MBA students |
| $1000 | 2023-07-01 |
| Eligibility: JD/MBA students | American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers (ACCFSL) Writing Competition |
| $10000 | 2021-12-01 |
| American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM) Writing Competition |
| Varies | 2021-01-15 |
| American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (ACEBC) Writing Competition |
| $1800 | 2 | 2023-06-01 |
| American Kennel Club Companion Animal Law Writing Contest |
| $2500 | 2 | 2021-03-21 |
| American Indian Law Review National Writing Competition |
| $1500 | 3 | 2023-02-28 |
| Andrew Cores Family Law Group Future Lawyers Scholarship |
| $2000 | 2023-03-23 |
| Arnold & Porter Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship |
| $10000 | 6 | 2021-03-15 |
| ASECA (Association of Securities & Exchange Commission Alumni Scholarships) Scholarship |
| $3750 | 2 | 2023-01-06 |
| Eligibility preference: a student who has interned or worked at the SEC, or is interested in SEC employment or the practice of securities law. See 12/20/22 email from Dean Yeager for details and application form. | The Behan Law Group Military Veteran Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-06-13 |
| Eligibility: You are a U.S. military Veteran, a current service member in the U.S. military, or the child of a Veteran or current service member | Blanch Law Firm Writing Scholarship |
| $5000 | rolling |
| Blackford & Flohr Annual Scholarship |
| $500 | 2022-02-28 |
| The Blossom Law Caregiver Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-03-07 |
| Eligibility specifics: students who have a parent who has been the primary caregiver for a loved one or who have served as caregivers themselves | bold.org "Be Bold" No-Essay scholarship |
| $10000 | rolling |
| The Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner Scholarship for 2023 |
| $1000 | 2023-04-30 |
| Brooks Kushman Intellectual Property Writing Competition |
| Varies | 2023-01-18 |
| Brooks Kushman Patent Claims Drafting Competition |
| $2000 | 2022-11-16 |
| Brown Trial Firm Scholarship Essay Contest - Cerebral Palsy |
| $1000 | 2021-06-01 |
| Essay question about innovative therapies and activities for cerebral palsy | Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Diversity Scholarship |
| $2000 | 2021-10-01 |
| Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship |
| $10000 | 3 | 2023-06-06 |
| Cancer Survivorship Scholarship, Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C. |
| $1000 | 2023-02-28 | Eligibility specifics: The applicant has a loved one who has previously battled or is currently battling cancer OR the applicant is currently battling or has previously battled cancer themselves. | Cali Lemon Lawyers Scholarshisp |
| $1000 | 2023-05-01 |
| Chan Law Firm Community Leadership Scholarship contest |
| $1000 | 2022-12-31 |
| Chapman Albin Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-07-14 |
| Chappell Smith & Arden Law Firm scholarship |
| $1500 | 2023-05-01 |
| Cole Schotz Diversity Scholarship |
| $5000 | 2021-07-01 |
| Eligibility specifics: full-time second-year law students attending a law school in a state in which Cole Schotz maintains an office. | Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Spouses Education Scholarship (Collin Allred Congressional District) |
| $20000 | 2021-04-30 |
| Eligibility Specifics: African American and Black graduating high school seniors; scholars pursuing undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees in a variety of fields. | Craig Jordan Consumer Protection Writing Competition 2022 |
| $4000 | 2022-12-31 |
| Crowder Law Firm Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2 | 2023-07-13 | Dallas Bar Association Energy Law Section |
| $250 | per semester | Students studying Energy Law; information emailed out from SMU Law | Dallas Bar Association Health Law Section Student Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2 | 2022-10-31 |
| Dallas Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section Scholarship |
| Varies | 2023-03-20 |
| Dallas Hispanic Bar Association |
| $5000 | spring |
| Awarded to one 1L & one 3L - $5,000 each in Spring semester. Information emailed out from SMU Law. | Dallas Jewish Community Foundation |
| Varies | 64 | 2022-02-10 |
| Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA) Foundation Bar Study Scholarship |
| $2500 | To be determined. |
| Eligibility specifics: taking the Texas bar or UBE in summer 2023; demonstrated efforts in line with mission of DWLA | Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. Striving Solo Parent Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-09-21 |
| Eligibility specifics: single parent who returned to school to pursue a degree | The Law Offices of David A. Kadzai, LLC First Generation College Student Scholarship |
| $2500 | 2023-10-10 |
| Eligibility specifics: you must be a first-generation college student | The Devadoss Law Firm Civil Rights Scholarship |
| See notes. | 2023-09-12 |
| Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Attorneys 2021 Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2021-07-01 |
| The Edwards Law Firm Community First Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-06-27 |
| Elite Lawyer Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-07-18 |
| Emery Reddy Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Scholarship |
| $3000 | 3 | 2023-11-30 |
| Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) Law Student Scholarship |
| Varies | multiple | 2023-03-31 |
| Findmylawtutor.com Scholarship |
| $500 | every 6 months |
| Foray Firm Black Law Student Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-06-06 |
| Eligibility: African American law students with demonstrated interest in family law. | Flores Tawney & Acosta PC Diversity In Law Scholarship Contest |
| $2500 | 2023-12-15 |
| Eligibility: Member of a historically underrepresented group in the legal profession | Florin|Roebig Voting Rights Scholarship Essay Context |
| $750 | 2023-05-01 |
| Friedmann Firm LLC Scholarship |
| $750 | 2022-12-31 |
| Frost Brown Todd Diversity Scholarship |
| $2000 | 5 | 2021-07-02 |
| Email mcary@smu.edu for application materials; also posted on bulletin board in Storey Hall | Frank and Debbie Branson Trial Scholars |
| $500 | rolling | Awarded to the student with the highest Trial Advocacy Grade | Forrest Smith Texas General Counsel Scholarship |
| Varies | 4 | 2023-03-28 |
| $20,000 between two students; application information emailed out from SMU Law. | Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law - Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program |
| $10000 | 2023-03-31 | Eligibility specifics: individuals seeking admission to law school or who have been admitted to law school and will attend full time, but not yet enrolled, and who have an interest in exploring a possible career in patent law in the United States. | George A. Strait Minority Scholarship |
| $5000 | 2021-04-01 |
| Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship |
| $2500 | 2022-09-27 |
| Eligibility specifics: demonstrated financial need; household income less than $75,000 | GRAMMY Recording Academy Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Contest |
| $10000 | 3 | 2023-01-03 |
| Grossman Law Offices Diversity at the Bar Scholarship |
| $1500 | 2021-12-31 |
| Harriet E. Miers Writing Competition Award (State Bar of Texas Women and the Law Section) |
| $1000 | 2022-02-25 |
| See also posting on Storey Hall bulletin board | Harris Lowry Manton LLP Civil Justice Scholarship |
| $5000 | 2021-06-01 |
| Open to any incoming or current law student | HNBA (Hispanic National Bar Association) VIA Fund 2022 General Law School Scholarships |
| $2500 | 10 | 2022-08-05 |
| Eligibility specifics: A current 1L, 2L or 3L law student in good standing of Hispanic or Latinx origin | Hofstra Law and Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Family Law Writing Competition |
| Varies | 2021-02-01 |
| Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-06-09 |
| Eligibility: your parent has been affected by a work-related injury | Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas |
| $5000 | 2 | 2021-05-01 |
| Email mcary@smu.edu for application materials; also posted on bulletin board in Storey Hall | IMLA Charles W. Thompson, Jr. Local Government Law Scholarship |
| $5000 | 3 | 2022-12-15 |
| Eligibility specifics: demonstrated interest in local government law | Institute for Energy Law (IEL) Hartick Scholar Writing Competition |
| $2500 | 2023-03-01 |
| Insurance Law Section State of the State Bar of Texas Writing Competition |
| $4000 | 3 | 2022-12-16 |
| James Kennedy Law "One Tough Student" Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2 | 2023-06-08 |
| Eligibility specifics: You or a family member was injured by a drunk driver; You have a need for financial assistance, with an annual family income of less than $75,000 | JD/MBA Law School Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-07-01 |
| Eligibility specifics: enrolled in joint JD/MBA program | Joel Stern Scholarship Fund |
| $5000 | 2022-02-11 |
| JT Legal Group Scholarship |
| $5000 | 2023-06-30 |
| Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation 30th Annual Brown Award |
| $15000 | 5 | 2023-05-31 |
| Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Joel White Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2022-02-04 |
| The Jordan Law Firm Diversity Scholarship |
| $1000 | 1 | 2021-12-31 |
| Eligibility specifics: Must have at least one birth parent who is a member of one of the following minority groups: Black/African American, Hispanic, Native North American, Pacific Islander | The Larson Law Office Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-07-01 |
| The Law Offices of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. Community Impact Scholarship |
| $2500 | 2 | 2023-03-02 |
| The Law Offices of Shane R. Kadlec Public Service Scholarship |
| $2000 | 2 | To be determined. |
| Kanoski Bresney Stand Up To Distracted Driving scholarship |
| $1000 | 5 | 2023-06-01 |
| Lazzari Memorial Prize: Texas Entertainment and Sports Law Writing Competition |
| $1000 | 2022-05-02 |
| Law Office of Philip W. Moore, Jr. Leadership Excellence Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-09-19 |
| Lemon Law Experts' Scholarships |
| $1000 | 2 | 2021-08-31 |
| Lighthouse Recovery Academic Scholarship |
| $2000 | 2021-12-04 |
| Eligibility specifics: maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Preference will be given to those with a field of study in Addiction or Mental Health. | LMJ Scholarship Program |
| $10000 | 2023-04-03 |
| Louis Jackson Memorial National Student Writing Competition in Employment and Labor Law |
| Varies | 2021-06-15 |
| Eligibility specifics: Authors must have completed or be currently taking coursework in employment or labor law. Only the first two submissions per law school will be accepted as entries for consideration. | Lucas Law Legal Leaders Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-06-22 |
| MABA (Mexican American Bar Association) of Dallas Scholarship |
| $1000 | 3 | 2022-08-26 |
| Eligibility specifics: demonstrated commitment to serving the LatinX community, shown through academic, extracurricular, or professional record of service | Mann Law Firm Legal Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2021-05-01 |
| Eligibility specifics: Commencing law school (1L) in August 2021; Written an article which has been published (in print or digital media). | Mark T. Banner IP Scholarship, Richard Linn American Inn of Court |
| $10000 | 2022-12-02 |
| Mark Zboch Academic Scholarship |
| $1000 | 1 | 2022-02-01 |
| Marsala Law Group Lifelong Hobby Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-08-31 |
| Marshall M. Schulman Annual Competition for Student Papers in Criminal Law and/or Criminal Procedure |
| $1500 | 2022-04-15 |
| MCCA (Minority Corporate Counsel Association) LMJ Scholarship |
| $10000 | 2023-04-03 | Eligibility specifics: open to women and diverse students who have: been accepted to an ABA-accredited law school on a full-time basis; an outstanding or promising academic record; an interest in corporate law; demonstrated community service and leadership qualities; a financial need; and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. The LMJ Scholarship grants scholarships of $10,000 to students for their first year of law school. | The Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies |
| Varies | 2023-02-16 |
| Eligibility specifics: Demonstrated prior commitment to workers’ rights as shown by employment, volunteer work, or other relevant experience | Michigan Auto Law Diversity Scholarship |
| $2000 | 2022-06-01 |
| Milestone Trial LawHER Scholarship |
| $10000 | 2021-08-01 |
| Eligibility: awarded to a rising 3L planning to become a plaintiff trial lawyer. | Moses & Rooth Law Offices Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-05-01 |
| MVP Accident Attorneys Scholarship Essay Contest |
| $1000 | 2022-11-21 |
| Nancy Etz Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2021-02-01 |
| National LGBT Bar Association and Foundation Scholarship for LGBTQ+ and Ally Law Students |
| $25000 | 3 | 2021-04-01 |
| Neal Davis Law Scholarship Essay Contest |
| $1000 | 2023-09-16 |
| Newland & Newland Single Parent Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-07-11 |
| Eligbility specifics: applicant must be a single parent or a child of a single parent | New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Animals and the Law’s 2021 Student Writing Competition |
| Varies | 2021-07-09 |
| Any topic on Animal Law. Email mcary@smu.edu for application materials; also posted on Storey Hall bulletin board | NextLevel Student Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-10-03 |
| Notre Dame Law School Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition |
| $2500 | 2022-06-01 |
| Oil and Gas Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas |
| Varies | rolling |
| Awarded to two highest grades in Oil and Gas per semester | Ottinger Employment Lawyers Law School Scholarship |
| $1500 | 1 | 2023-12-01 |
| OVC, INC. “Market Yourself” Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-05-30 |
| Paul D. White Scholarship Program - BakerHostetler |
| $7500 | rolling |
| Perkins Coie 2L Diversity Fellowship |
| $25000 | 2021-07-24 |
| Flyer also posted on Storey Hall bulletin board | PIABA James E. Beckley Student Writing Competition |
| $1500 | 3 | 2023-09-15 |
| Poulos and Coates Law School Scholarship Contest |
| $2500 | 2023-08-01 |
| The Ramage Law Group Adopted Child Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-07-06 |
| Eligibility specifics: student must have been legally adopted by one or both of their parents | Robert Masur Fellowship in Civil Liberties 2021 |
| $2000 | 2023-04-21 |
| Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Writing Competition |
| $5000 | 2022-02-01 |
| Registration Deadline: February 1st, 2022; Competition problem emailed out: February 2nd, 2022; Submission Deadline: Friday, March 18th, 2022 | Schaefer Halleen’s Social Equity Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2 | 2022-06-30 |
| Schwabe, Williamson, & Wyatt 1L Summer Associate Diversity Fellowship Program |
| $10000 | winter 2020-21 |
| Schwartz Injury Law Perseverance Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2023-06-13 |
| Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship for Summer 2024 |
| $25000 | 2023-08-30 |
| Sieben Edmunds Miller Criminal Justice Scholarship |
| $2000 | 2022-12-30 |
| Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega scholarship |
| $1500 | 2023-09-04 |
| SMU Black Alumni Scholarship Fund |
| Varies | 2023-01-17 |
| Eligibility: member of ABS; cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher; demonstrated financial need | SMU Latino Alumni Scholarship |
| Varies | 2022-01-31 |
| Eligibility Specifics: member of HLSA; cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher; demonstrated financial need | SMU Maguire Center Ethics Essay Prize | $1000 | 4 | 2023-03-31 |
| Sports Lawyers Association 11th Annual Law Student Writing Competition |
| $5000 | y | 2023-03-31 |
| State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section Writing Competition |
| $4000 | 3 | 2022-12-16 |
| The Stoddard Firm |
| $2000 | 2021-05-03 |
| Tax Section State Bar of Texas Scholarship |
| $2000 | 3 | 2023-04-14 |
| Eligibility specifics: you intend to practice tax law in Texas | Law Offices of Tedone & Morton, P.C. Cancer Survivorship Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2022-09-07 |
| Terry Bryant Law Firm Law School Scholarship |
| $2500 | 2023-06-01 |
| Texas Aggie Bar Association |
| Varies | 2022-02-26 |
| EMAIL mcary@smu.edu for PDF of application. Eligibility specifics: Former Aggie Student that has completed at least 40 undergraduate hours at Texas A&M University and will be beginning or currently in law school in the Fall of 2022 | "The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Annual Law Student Writing Competition |
| $3000 | 3 | 2021-06-15 |
| " | The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship |
| $1000 | 2021-12-15 |
| Eligibility specifics: You or a loved one have been affected by leukemia. | The Plaxen and Adler Scholarship |
| $2500 | rolling | Eligibility specifics: interest in civil trial advocacy and a career as a civil trial lawyer | The Richard Linn American Inn of Court – Mark T. Banner Scholarship |
| $10000 | 2021-12-03 |
| Eligibility specifics: Commitment to the pursuit of a career in IP law. | The Sovereignty Symposium XXXIIII Writing Competition |
| Varies | 2021-09-01 |
| Papers on any issue concerning Native American law. Email mcary@smu.edu for application; also posted on Storey Hall bulletin board. | Tribeca Capital Group Scholarship |
| $2500 | 2022-06-15 |
| Trandafir International Business Writing Competition |
| $2000 | 2021-02-20 |
| TYLA (Texas Young Lawyers Association) Diversity Scholarship |
| $5000 | 2021-10-15 |
| United States-Mexico Bar Association (USMBA) Writing Competition - "Legal Framework for the Fuel of North America" |
| Varies | 2021-01-11 |
| Email Moira Cary (mcary@smu.edu) for application documents and prompt. See also: posting on billboard in Storey Hall. | USMBA Phil Robbins Writing Competition "Legal Framework for the Fuel Market of North America" |
| Varies | 2021-09-12 |
| Vinson &Elkins 1L Diversity Fellowships |
| Varies | rolling |
| Warren E Burger Prize Writing Competition |
| $5000 | 2023-07-01 |
| Wilson W. Herndon Memorial Fund - Antitrust |
| $500 | rolling |
| Awarded to Law student that ranks highest in Antitrust Law | Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, Mike Eidson Law Student Scholarship |
| $5000 | 1 | 2023-05-01 |
| Eligibility specifics: female student entering her third year of law school who has demonstrated a commitment to a career as a trial lawyer | Zelle LLP Diversity In Law Scholarship |
| $15000 | 2023-01-17 |
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