Scholarships, Writing Competitions, and Awards

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.

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Title	Type	Amount	#	Application Deadline	Eligibility	Notes
AAJ Trial Advocay Law Student Scholarship	Practice Area	$3000	1	2024-05-01	2L 3L
ABA Forum on Construction Law Writing Competition	Writing Practice Area	$1000		2024-06-30	1L 2L 3L
AccessLex, MAX Scholarship		$2500		2024-11-01	1L 2L 3L
Acker Warren Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$1000		2025-11-05		Undergradute Students
Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition Award	Writing	$2000		2026-01-16
Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys Students in Need Scholarship	Firms	$2000		2025-08-04	1L 2L 3L
American Bar Association's Busines Law Section, Mendes Hershman student Writing Contest	Writing Practice Area	$1000		2025-05-30
American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)	Writing	Varies	2	2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L
American Constitution Society, Motley Writing Competition	Writing Practice Area	Varies	2	2024-02-05	1L 2L 3L
Autumn Walton from Western New England University, Blankstyle Scholarship	Writing	$1000		2025-05-31
American Constitution Society, The Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law	Writing Practice Area	$1500		2024-02-05	1L 2L 3L
Andrew Cores Family Law Group Future Lawyers Scholarship	General Firms	$2000		2025-09-15	1L 2L 3L
ASECA (Association of Securities & Exchange Commission Alumni Scholarships) Scholarship	Practice Area	$5000	2	2025-02-14	1L 2L 3L
The Baker Law Firm, The Pillars of Justice Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-11-19
Bankruptcy Law Section, State Bar of Texas Annual Scholarship	Regional Practice Area	$2500		2025-10-21	2L 3L
Baylor Law’s annual Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition	Writing	Varies		2024-10-25	1L 2L 3L
The Behan Law Group Military Veteran Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2024-11-25	1L 2L 3L	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
Bettersworth Law Firm Justice for All Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-09-22
Biederman & Burleson Champions of Justice Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-10-06		Undergradute Students
Blanch Law Firm Writing Scholarship	Writing Firms	$5000		rolling	1L 2L 3L
The Bihm Firm, LLC Conflict Conqueror Scholarship	Firms	Varies		2025-07-07		Undergradute Students
The Blossom Law Caregiver Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-08-11	1L 2L 3L	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	General	$10000		rolling	1L 2L 3L
Boland Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Bowman and Brooke Foundation, Future Defense Lawyer Scholarship	Firms	Varies		2025-02-27	1L
Brandon Wong & Associates Difference Makers Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-05-07	1L 2L 3L
Break Out Bail Bonds Bridge to Success Scholarship		$1000		2025-10-13	1L 2L 3L
Breona Taylor and Kennet Walker Civil Rights Scholarship	Diversity	See notes.		2024-03-01	1L 2L 3L
Brooks Kushman Intellectual Property Writing Competition	Writing Firms	$2500		2024-02-17	1L 2L 3L
Brooks Kushman Patent Claims Drafting Competition	Writing Firms	$2500		2024-02-24	1L 2L 3L
Brooklyn Injury Attorneys P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L
Bronx Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate and Graduate Students
The Boucher LLP's Scholarship	Firms	$2000		2024-07-15		Undergradute Students
The Burress Injury Law, Underdog Scholarship	Firms	Varies		2025-12-03	1L 2L 3L
Carole Willis Criminal Justice Reform Scholarship	General	$2270		2024-05-01	1L 2L 3L
CATALYSTS Scholarship	General Diversity	$1000	2	2024-07-20	1L 2L 3L
Chapman Albin Scholarship	General Firms	$1000		2025-06-13	1L 2L 3L
Charlie Butts Scholarship	Practice Area	$6000		2025-12-20	3L
Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)	General	$6000		2024-02-15	1L 2L 3L
Cole Schotz, PC, Community Impact Scholarship	Firms	$10000		2025-07-01	2L
Collins Rupp, P.C., Moving Forward Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-05-19		Undergraduate Student
Coover & Associates, Parents With Passion Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-11-03	1L 2L 3L
Crowder Law Firm Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$1000	2	2025-06-18	1L 2L 3L
Dallas Bar Association Energy Law Section	Practice Area	$250		per semester		Students studying Energy Law; information emailed out from SMU Law
Dallas Bar Association Health Law Section Student Scholarship	Practice Area	$1000	2	2024-11-01	3L
Dallas Hispanic Bar Association	Diversity	$5000		spring	1L 3L	Awarded to one 1L & one 3L - $5,000 each in Spring semester. Information emailed out from SMU Law.
Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation Scholarship	Diversity	Varies		2025-02-05
Dallas Jewish Community Foundation	General	Varies		2025-01-31	1L 2L 3L
Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA) Foundation's "Get Started Grant"	Regional	$2500		2025-03-28	3L	See requirements
Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. Striving Solo Parent Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-09-10	1L 2L 3L	Eligibility specifics: single parent who returned to school to pursue a degree
David A. Kadzai, LLC, First Generation College Student Scholarship	Firms Diversity	$2500		2025-10-01	1L 2L 3L	Eligibility specifics: you must be a first-generation college student
Diamant Gerstein, LLC, Jewish Heritage Scholarship		See notes.		2025-07-02
Dolan, Dobrinsky, Rosenblum & Bluestein (DDRB Lawyers Legal Scholarship)	Firms	$1500		2024-09-13	1L 2L 3L
Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition	Firms	$1000		2025-12-01	1L 2L 3L
Devadoss Law Firm Civil Rights Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$1000		2025-09-03	1L 2L 3L
Doug Murphy Law Firm, Criminal Justice Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$1000		2024-11-18	1L 2L 3L
Donald W. Banner Diversity Fellowship	Firms Practice Area	$5000		To be determined.	1L
Edward M. Farmer's Supporting Our Heroes Scholarship	Firms Diversity	$1000		2025-02-10	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Elite Lawyer Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-07-18	1L 2L 3L
Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) Law Student Scholarship	Practice Area	Varies	multiple	2025-03-28	1L 2L 3L
Eskew Law's Scholarship Contest	Firms	$1500		2024-10-31	1L 2L 3L
Fawell & Fawell Out-of-State Student Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-08-11	1L 2L 3L
Federal Bar Association, S.D. Tex. Chapter and the Blask Foundation’s Scholarship		See notes.		2024-04-23	1L 2L 3L
FDCC Foundation, Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship		See notes.		2025-05-30	1L
Fred Gray Civil Rights Writing Competition	Writing	Varies	3	2025-02-28
Freedman Law, LLC, Workplace Rights Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-09-08	1L 2L 3L
Findmylawtutor.com Scholarship	General	$500		every 6 months	1L 2L 3L
The Freedman Law Workplace Rights Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$1000		2025-03-10	1L 2L 3L
Friedmann Firm LLC Scholarship	General Firms	$750		2024-12-31	1L 2L 3L
Frank and Debbie Branson Trial Scholars	General	$500		rolling		Awarded to the student with the highest Trial Advocacy Grade
Forrest Smith Texas General Counsel Scholarship	Regional	Varies	4	2024-02-29	2L	20000
Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy LawScholarship for JDs	General Practice Area	Varies		2025-02-28	1L 2L 3L
Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Scholarship for LL.M/SJD Students	Practice Area	Varies		2025-03-15		LL.M/SJD students
Gerber & Holder Worker's Compensation Attorney's Scholarship Essay Contest	Writing Firms	$1000		2024-05-20	1L 2L 3L
Gold Law Firm Challenge Yourself Scholarship		$1000		2025-06-04		Undergraduate Student
Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship	General Firms	$2500		2025-09-17	1L 2L 3L	Eligibility specifics: demonstrated financial need; household income less than $75,000
Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-06-09	1L 2L 3L	Eligibility: your parent has been affected by a work-related injury
Human Rights Essay Contest of the State Bar of Texas International Law Section	General Writing Regional Practice Area	$1500		2024-04-01	1L 2L 3L
International Aerospace Womens Association (IAWA) Scholarship	General	$5000		2025-03-03	1L 2L
Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas	Regional Practice Area	$5000	2	2024-05-01	1L 2L 3L	email application to juanita.deloach@btlaw.com and Marylauren Ilagan at marylauren.ilagan@olaplex.com (entire applications only, i.e., applications including the recommendations, essays, and transcripts).
IMLA Charles W. Thompson, Jr. Local Government Law Scholarship	Practice Area	$5000	3	2024-12-31	1L 2L	Eligibility specifics: demonstrated interest in local government law
Institute for Energy Law (IEL) Hartick Scholar Writing Competition	Writing	$2500		2024-03-01	1L 2L 3L
The J. Carlisle DeHay, Jr. Endowed Scholarship in Law	Practice Area	$4000	4	2024-10-31	2L 3L
James F. DiQuattro, Lawyers of Tomorrow Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2024-12-11	1L 2L 3L
James Kennedy Law Law Legal Ethics Scholarship	Firms	$1000	2	2025-08-13	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate student too.
James F. Diquattro, Lawyers of Tomorrow Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-06-11
Janean D. Watkins Aspiring Victim's Rights Advocate Scholarship	General	$1000		2024-04-02	1L 2L 3L
Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney's Rising Stars Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-09-10	1L 2L 3L
JLTLAF Minority Law Student Scholarship	Diversity	Varies		2024-09-20	2L 3L
John T. Fields & Associates, LLC's Fight Against Domestic Violence Scholarship	Firms	$2000		2025-10-08	1L 2L 3L
The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark's Empowering Families Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-02-12	1L 2L 3L
Kari H. Fawcett, Young Legal Professionals Scholarship		See notes.		2025-08-18
The Law Offices of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. Community Impact Scholarship	Firms	$2500	2	2025-02-12	1L 2L 3L
The Law Offices of Shane R. Kadlec Public Service Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$2000	2	To be determined.	1L 2L 3L
Kanoski Bresney Stand Up To Distracted Driving scholarship	Firms	$1000	5	2025-05-12	1L 2L 3L
The Lemon Law Firm Annual Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2024-12-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate student too.
LMJ Scholarship Program	Diversity	$10000		2024-04-14	1L	Undergraduate
MABA (Mexican American Bar Association) of Dallas Scholarship	Diversity	$1000	3	2024-08-20	1L 2L 3L	Eligibility specifics: demonstrated commitment to serving the LatinX community, shown through academic, extracurricular, or professional record of service
Major League Baseball Players Association, Michael Weiner Scholarship	General Practice Area	$10000		2024-03-01	1L 2L 3L
Magana & Van Dyke Dominick Marsala Memorial Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-09-03	1L 2L 3L
Marshall-Motley Scholars Program	Diversity	Varies		2025-02-04	1L 2L 3L
MCCA LMJ Scholarship Program		See notes.		To be determined.	1L
Miami Family Law Group, PLLC, Breaking the Cycle Scholarship	General Firms	$1000		2025-06-04	1L 2L
Michigan Auto Law Diversity Scholarship	Firms Diversity	$1000		2025-11-19	1L 2L 3L
Minority Women in LAS Scholarship	Diversity	$2000		2024-05-02	1L 2L 3L
MKFM Resilient Student Scholarship	Firms	$1500		2025-05-12	1L 2L 3L
Ms. JD's Public Interest Scholarship	Diversity	See notes.		2024-03-01	1L 2L 3L
Moore Family Law, Leadership Excellence Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-10-13	1L 2L 3L
MVP Accident Attorneys Scholarship Essay Contest	General	$1000		2025-01-17	1L 2L 3L
Natalie Joy Poremski Scholarship		$1000		2025-10-13		Undergraduate Students
National LGBT Bar Association and Foundation Scholarship for LGBTQ+ and Ally Law Students	Firms	$1000		2025-10-03
National LGBT Bar Association and Foundation Scholarship for LGBTQ+ and Ally Law Students	Firms	$1000		2025-11-17	1L 2L 3L
Newland & Newland, LLP Single Parent Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-12-03
Newland & Newland, LLP Single Parent Scholarship		$1000		2025-06-16	1L 2L 3L	Eligbility specifics: applicant must be a single parent or a child of a single parent
New Jersey Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate Students
Notre Dame Law School Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition	Writing Practice Area	$2500		2025-04-15	1L 2L 3L
NYC Injury Attorneys P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L
Oil and Gas Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas	Practice Area	Varies		rolling	2L 3L	Awarded to two highest grades in Oil and Gas per semester
OVC Scholarship Network (Several Scholarships)	Firms	$1000		2025-04-23	1L 2L 3L
OVC Scholarship Network (Several Scholarships)		Varies		To be determined.
OVC, INC. “Market Yourself” Scholarship	General Firms	$1000		2025-11-10	1L 2L 3L
PA Medical Malpractice Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-12-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate Students
Paul D. White Scholarship Program - BakerHostetler	Firms	See notes.		rolling
Philadelphia Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship	Writing Firms	$500		2025-07-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate Students
The Law Office of Philip R. Nathe Scholarsjip	Firms	$1000		2024-07-10		Undergraduate Students
Phillip Robinson Memorial Scholarship	General Diversity	$4235		2024-04-02	1L 2L 3L
Pittsburgh Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$500		2025-07-31	1L 2L 3L	Undergraduate Students
Poulos and Coates Law School Scholarship Contest	Writing Firms	See notes.		2026-07-31	1L 2L 3L
Pullan & Young, Supporting Prisoners' Families Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-09-15	1L 2L 3L
The Ramage Law Group, Adopted Child Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2025-07-11	1L 2L 3L
Redondo Law Firm Annual Scholarship Contest	Writing Firms	$1000		2024-09-09	1L 2L 3L	College or University
Jerry D. Andrews, Road to Recovery Scholarship	Firms	$500		2026-07-31	1L 2L 3L
Robert Wayne Pearce Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship	Firms Practice Area	$2500		2024-12-01	1L 2L 3L
Salvado Law Dream Chaser Scholarship	Firms Diversity	$1000		2025-07-09		Undergraduate Students
Salvi & Maher Scholarship	Firms	$1000		2024-09-09	1L 2L 3L
Skywalker Mission Education Scholarship	General	$500		2024-08-15	1L 2L 3L
State Bar of Texas Diversity in the Profession Committee Bar Exam Prep Scholarship	Diversity	Varies		2025-02-07	3L
Tannenwald Writing Competition Sponsored By The Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship & The American College of Tax Counsel	Writing Practice Area	Varies		2024-07-10	1L 2L 3L	Undergradute too
Law Students Pursuing Tax Law Scholarship, by the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas	Practice Area	$2000	3	2024-04-30	1L 2L 3L
The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law	Diversity	Varies		2024-02-28	1L 2L 3L
The Plaxen and Adler Scholarship	Practice Area	$2500		rolling		Eligibility specifics: interest in civil trial advocacy and a career as a civil trial lawyer
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Educational Institute, Charles D. (“Charlie”) Butts Award		$5000		2024-12-20	3L
TYLA Diversity Scholarship Program	Diversity	Varies		2024-10-11	1L 2L 3L	TYLA intends to award three scholarships to qualified applicants in the amounts of: $5,000 (first place), $3,000 (second place), and $1,500 (third place).
USLAW Network Foundation Law School, Diversity Scholarship Program	Diversity	Varies		2025-03-01
Victoria Fisher Memorial Prize Essay	Writing	Varies		2024-11-29
Vinson &Elkins 1L Diversity Fellowships	Firms Diversity	Varies		rolling	1L
Visionaries of Tomorrow Scholarship by Opocar		$1000		2024-03-21	1L 2L 3L
Warren E Burger Prize Writing Competition	Writing	$5000		2025-07-01	1L 2L 3L
Wanta Thome PLC Scholarship	Firms	Varies		2025-05-31	1L 2L 3L
Wilson W. Herndon Memorial Fund - Antitrust	Practice Area	$500		rolling	2L 3L	Awarded to Law student that ranks highest in Antitrust Law
Whitlock Law, LLC, Hope and Opportunity Scholarship	Firms	$1500		2025-05-05	1L 2L 3L	undergraduate and graduate students
Anna Belle Kritser II Foundation Scholarship ("Panhandle Scholarship")	Firms	$1000		2025-12-10