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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"" "" Warren E Burger Prize Writing Competition
Title Type Amount # Application Deadline Eligibility Notes
AAJ Trial Advocay Law Student Scholarship
  • Practice Area
$300012024-05-01
  • 2L
  • 3L
ABA Forum on Construction Law Writing Competition
  • Writing
  • Practice Area
$10002024-06-30
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys Students in Need Scholarship
  • Firms
$20002024-11-04
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
  • Writing
Varies22024-12-21
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
American Constitution Society, Motley Writing Competition
  • Writing
  • Practice Area
Varies22024-02-05
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
American Constitution Society, The Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law
  • Writing
  • Practice Area
$15002024-02-05
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
Andrew Cores Family Law Group Future Lawyers Scholarship
  • General
  • Firms
$20002025-03-17
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
Baylor Law’s annual Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition
  • Writing
Varies2024-10-25
  • 1L
  • 2L
  • 3L
The Behan Law Group Military Veteran Scholarship
  • Firms
$10002024-11-25
  • 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
The Bettersworth Law Firm Justice for All Scholarship
  • Firms
$10002025-03-26
    The Biederman & Burleson Champions of Justice Scholarship
    • Firms
    $10002024-10-07
      Undergradute Students
      Blanch Law Firm Writing Scholarship
      • Writing
      • Firms
      $5000rolling
      • 1L
      • 2L
      • 3L
      The Bihm Firm, LLC Conflict Conqueror Scholarship
      • Firms
      Varies2025-01-08
        Undergradute Students
        The Blossom Law Caregiver Scholarship
        • Firms
        $10002025-02-19
        • 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
        $10000rolling
        • 1L
        • 2L
        • 3L
        Boland Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship
        • Writing
        • Firms
        $5002024-12-31
        • 1L
        • 2L
        • 3L
        Undergraduate and Graduate Students
        Brandon Wong & Associates Difference Makers Scholarship
        • Firms
        $10002024-05-27
        • 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
        $25002024-02-17
        • 1L
        • 2L
        • 3L
        Brooks Kushman Patent Claims Drafting Competition
        • Writing
        • Firms
        $25002024-02-24
        • 1L
        • 2L
        • 3L
        Brooklyn Injury Attorneys P.C. Essay Scholarship
        • Writing
        • Firms
        $5002024-12-31
        • 1L
        • 2L
        • 3L
        Bronx Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship
        • Writing
        • Firms
        $5002024-12-31
        • 1L
        • 2L
        • 3L
        Undergraduate and Graduate Students
        The Boucher LLP's Scholarship
        • Firms
        $20002024-07-15
          Undergradute Students
          Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship
          • Firms
          Varies2024-12-02
          • 1L
          • 2L
          • 3L
          Carole Willis Criminal Justice Reform Scholarship
          • General
          $22702024-05-01
          • 1L
          • 2L
          • 3L
          CATALYSTS Scholarship
          • General
          • Diversity
          $100022024-07-20
          • 1L
          • 2L
          • 3L
          Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)
          • General
          $60002024-02-15
          • 1L
          • 2L
          • 3L
          Crowder Law Firm Scholarship
          • Firms
          • Practice Area
          $100022024-12-18
          • 1L
          • 2L
          • 3L
          Dallas Bar Association Energy Law Section
          • Practice Area
          $250per semester
            Students studying Energy Law; information emailed out from SMU Law
            Dallas Bar Association Health Law Section Student Scholarship
            • Practice Area
            $100022024-11-01
            • 3L
            Dallas Hispanic Bar Association
            • Diversity
            $5000spring
            • 1L
            • 3L
            Awarded to one 1L & one 3L - $5,000 each in Spring semester. Information emailed out from SMU Law.
            Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA) Foundation's "Get Started Grant"
            • Regional
            $25002024-03-29
            • 3L
            Eligibility specifics: taking the Texas bar or UBE in summer 2024; demonstrated efforts in line with mission of DWLA
            Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. Striving Solo Parent Scholarship
            • Firms
            $10002025-03-12
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            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
            • Firms
            • Diversity
            $25002024-10-02
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            Eligibility specifics: you must be a first-generation college student
            Dolan, Dobrinsky, Rosenblum & Bluestein (DDRB Lawyers Legal Scholarship)
            • Firms
            $15002024-09-13
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            The Devadoss Law Firm Civil Rights Scholarship
            • Firms
            • Practice Area
            $10002025-03-03
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            Doug Murphy Law Firm, Criminal Justice Scholarship
            • Firms
            • Practice Area
            $10002024-11-18
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            The Edward M. Farmer's Supporting Our Heroes Scholarship
            • Firms
            • Diversity
            $10002025-02-10
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            Undergraduate and Graduate Students
            Elite Lawyer Scholarship
            • Firms
            $10002024-07-10
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            Eskew Law's Scholarship Contest
            • Firms
            $15002024-10-31
            • 1L
            • 2L
            • 3L
            Federal Bar Association, S.D. Tex. Chapter and the Blask Foundation’s Scholarship
              See notes.2024-04-23
              • 1L
              • 2L
              • 3L
              Findmylawtutor.com Scholarship
              • General
              $500every 6 months
              • 1L
              • 2L
              • 3L
              Friedmann Firm LLC Scholarship
              • General
              • Firms
              $7502024-12-31
              • 1L
              • 2L
              • 3L
              Frank and Debbie Branson Trial Scholars
              • General
              $500rolling
                Awarded to the student with the highest Trial Advocacy Grade
                Forrest Smith Texas General Counsel Scholarship
                • Regional
                Varies42024-02-29
                • 2L
                20000
                Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
                • General
                • Practice Area
                VariesTo be determined.
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Gerber & Holder Worker's Compensation Attorney's Scholarship Essay Contest
                • Writing
                • Firms
                $10002024-05-20
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship
                • General
                • Firms
                $25002025-03-19
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Eligibility specifics: demonstrated financial need; household income less than $75,000
                Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship
                • Firms
                $10002024-12-09
                • 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
                $15002024-04-01
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
                • Regional
                • Practice Area
                $500022024-05-01
                • 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).
                Institute for Energy Law (IEL) Hartick Scholar Writing Competition
                • Writing
                $25002024-03-01
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                James F. DiQuattro, Lawyers of Tomorrow Scholarship
                • Firms
                $10002024-12-11
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                James Kennedy Law Law Legal Ethics Scholarship
                • Firms
                $100022025-08-13
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Undergraduate student too.
                Janean D. Watkins Aspiring Victim's Rights Advocate Scholarship
                • General
                $10002024-04-02
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney's Rising Stars Scholarship
                • Firms
                $10002025-03-12
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                JLTLAF Minority Law Student Scholarship
                • Diversity
                Varies2024-09-20
                • 2L
                • 3L
                John T. Fields & Associates, LLC's Fight Against Domestic Violence Scholarship
                • Firms
                $20002024-10-14
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark's Empowering Families Scholarship
                • Firms
                $10002025-02-12
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                The Law Offices of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. Community Impact Scholarship
                • Firms
                $250022025-02-12
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                The Law Offices of Shane R. Kadlec Public Service Scholarship
                • Firms
                • Practice Area
                $20002To be determined.
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Kanoski Bresney Stand Up To Distracted Driving scholarship
                • Firms
                $100052024-11-13
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                The Lemon Law Firm Annual Scholarship
                • Firms
                $10002024-12-31
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Undergraduate student too.
                LMJ Scholarship Program
                • Diversity
                $100002024-04-14
                • 1L
                Undergraduate
                MABA (Mexican American Bar Association) of Dallas Scholarship
                • Diversity
                $100032024-08-20
                • 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
                $100002024-03-01
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Magana & Van Dyke Dominick Marsala Memorial Scholarship
                • Firms
                $10002025-02-26
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                Marshall-Motley Scholars Program
                • Diversity
                Varies2025-02-04
                • 1L
                • 2L
                • 3L
                MCCA (Minority Corporate Counsel Association) LMJ Scholarship
                • Diversity
                $100002024-04-14
                  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.
                  Miami Family Law Group,PLLC
                  • General
                  • Firms
                  $10002024-06-19
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  The Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies
                  • Practice Area
                  Varies2024-03-01
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Eligibility specifics: Demonstrated prior commitment to workers’ rights as shown by employment, volunteer work, or other relevant experience
                  Minority Women in LAS Scholarship
                  • Diversity
                  $20002024-05-02
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  MKFM Resilient Student Scholarship
                  • Firms
                  $15002024-11-13
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Ms. JD's Public Interest Scholarship
                  • Diversity
                  See notes.2024-03-01
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Natalie Joy Poremski Scholarship
                  • Diversity
                  $10002024-06-15
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  New Jersey Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship
                  • Writing
                  • Firms
                  $5002024-12-31
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Undergraduate Students
                  Notre Dame Law School Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
                  • Writing
                  • Practice Area
                  $25002024-04-15
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  NYC Injury Attorneys P.C. Essay Scholarship
                  • Writing
                  • Firms
                  $5002024-12-31
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Oil and Gas Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
                  • Practice Area
                  Variesrolling
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Awarded to two highest grades in Oil and Gas per semester
                   OVC, INC. “Market Yourself” Scholarship
                  • General
                  • Firms
                  $10002024-11-11
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  PA Medical Malpractice Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship
                  • Writing
                  • Firms
                  $5002024-12-31
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Undergraduate Students
                  Paul D. White Scholarship Program - BakerHostetler
                  • Firms
                  • Diversity
                  $7500rolling
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  Philadelphia Injury Lawyers P.C. Essay Scholarship
                  • Writing
                  • Firms
                  $5002024-07-31
                  • 1L
                  • 2L
                  • 3L
                  Undergraduate Students
                  The Law Office of Philip R. Nathe Scholarsjip
                  • Firms
                  $10002024-07-10
                    Undergraduate Students
                    Phillip Robinson Memorial Scholarship
                    • General
                    • Diversity
                    $42352024-04-02
                    • 1L
                    • 2L
                    • 3L
                    Pullan & Young Supporting Prisoners' Families Scholarship
                    • Firms
                    $10002025-03-17
                    • 1L
                    • 2L
                    • 3L
                    Redondo Law Firm Annual Scholarship Contest
                    • Writing
                    • Firms
                    $10002024-09-09
                    • 1L
                    • 2L
                    • 3L
                    College or University
                    Road to Recovery Schoalrship by Delivery Driver Accident Attorney
                      $20002024-07-15
                        Robert Wayne Pearce Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship
                        • Firms
                        • Practice Area
                        $25002024-12-01
                        • 1L
                        • 2L
                        • 3L
                        Salvado Law Dream Chaser Scholarship
                        • Firms
                        $10002025-01-13
                          Undergraduate Students
                          Salvi & Maher Scholarship
                          • Firms
                          $10002024-09-09
                          • 1L
                          • 2L
                          • 3L
                          Skywalker Mission Education Scholarship
                          • General
                          $5002024-08-15
                          • 1L
                          • 2L
                          • 3L
                          The Spencer & Associates Community Leaders Scholarship
                          • Firms
                          $10002024-08-07
                          • 1L
                          • 2L
                          • 3L
                          State Bar of Texas, Bar Exam Prep Scholarship Application
                          • Diversity
                          Varies2024-02-09
                          • 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
                          Varies2024-07-10
                          • 1L
                          • 2L
                          • 3L
                          Undergradute too
                          Law Students Pursuing Tax Law Scholarship, by the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas
                          • Practice Area
                          $200032024-04-30
                          • 1L
                          • 2L
                          • 3L
                          The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
                          • Diversity
                          Varies2024-02-28
                          • 1L
                          • 2L
                          • 3L
                          The Plaxen and Adler Scholarship
                          • Practice Area
                          $2500rolling
                            Eligibility specifics: interest in civil trial advocacy and a career as a civil trial lawyer
                            TYLA Diversity Scholarship Program
                            • Diversity
                            Varies2024-10-11
                            • 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
                            $50002024-03-01
                              Vinson &Elkins 1L Diversity Fellowships
                              • Firms
                              • Diversity
                              Variesrolling
                              • 1L
                              Visionaries of Tomorrow Scholarship by Opocar
                                $10002024-03-21
                                • 1L
                                • 2L
                                • 3L
                                • Writing
                                $50002024-07-01
                                • 1L
                                • 2L
                                • 3L
                                Wilson W. Herndon Memorial Fund - Antitrust
                                • Practice Area
                                $500rolling
                                • 2L
                                • 3L
                                Awarded to Law student that ranks highest in Antitrust Law