External Scholarships & Awards

These are private scholarships offered by law firms and community organizations. Scholarships are available to incoming and continuing students. Click on the links for more information and to see if you qualify. All scholarships are organized by their deadlines.

On this page:

Resources for additional information:

Bowman and Brooke Foundation: Future Defense Lawyer Scholarship

Value: $5,000 (2 available)                                                                 Deadline: February 27, 2025

This opportunity is open to all current 1L law students who plan to enroll full-time at an ABA-accredited law school for the entire upcoming academic year (2025-2026) and who are self-identified as one or more of the following: Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+ and/or an individual with a disability.

More application details: https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/bowmanandbrooke/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Re0v3OaKd3YoqM8Q7E6ngvuBotJ-UrpD6khpoR7FTBrl6z811CRdEXa270JrRDH-wkP4RiahOqwTM7YrvnH3wRLrpol5nhmr2PTP34V_eyJ78gkY&_hsmi=343653584

2025 Law Student Second Amendment Research and Writing Competition

First Place: $10,000
Second Place: $ 7,000
Third Place: $3,000                                                                     

Deadline: March 1, 2025

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund welcomes any law student currently enrolled in an ABA accredited law school to submit an original scholarly article suitable for publication addressing an assigned cutting edge Second Amendment issue.  The assigned question revolves around the United States Supreme Court opinion in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, 142 S. Ct. 2111 (2022)

Competition Flyer

Application Cover Page

Assigned Competition Question

2025 Kay Crawford Murray Commercial Division Diversity Fellowship

Value: $6,000                                                                                               Deadline: March 7, 2025

The New York Bar Foundation is currently accepting applications for this Fellowship that is open to all first year (1L) law students enrolled in a New York State law school who are members of one of the following racial/ethnic groups: Black/African American; Latino/a; Native American or Alaskan Native; Asian or Pacific Islander.  The awarded Fellow will spend 10 weeks of the summer of 2025 working on Commercial Division matters in the Chambers of Justice Margaret Chan, of the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of New York, New York. 

Information and application at https://www.tnybf.org/2025-kcm-commercial-division-fellowship-application/

2025 Honorable Charles L. Brieant, Jr. Fellowship Announcement

Value: $5,000                                                                        Deadline: March 21, 2025

The Southern District of New York is now accepting applications for this summer 2025 Fellowship, open to all first- and second-year law students. The Fellow will work under the supervision of a judge to research and write about issues confronting the Court as a whole, and may be asked to work with other judges, clerks and court staff to complete the assigned research project.

Information and application at https://www.tnybf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Hon.-Charles-Brieant-Jr-Fellowship-Application.pdf

The Sovereignty Symposium XXXVII - Oklahoma City University School of Law Writing Competition

Doolin Prize: First Prize: $1,000                     Second Prize: $750                  Third Prize: $500

Hager Prize: $1000                                                   Deadline: March 24, 2025

This competition is open to college students of any level. Winning entries will be published in the 2025 Symposium Book of materials on Indian Law. 

Competition Flyer

Information and submission at https://www.thesovereigntysymposium.com/scholarships/

The New York Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation (NYIPLEF): 2025 NYIPLEF Diversity Scholarship

Value: $10,000 each (2 opportunities available)                             Deadline: April 4, 2025

These Scholarship opportunities provide funds to law students from a broad range of backgrounds currently enrolled in a JD program at an accredited law school (rising 2L, 3L) in the greater New York area, in good academic standing and demonstrating intention to practice full-time in intellectual property law.  The funds will be utilized for tuition and expenses related to attending law school for the 2025-2026 academic year.

More Scholarship eligibility and requirements: https://www.nyiplef.org/2025diversityscholarship

NOTRE DAME LAW SCHOOL: SMITH-DOHENY LEGAL ETHICS WRITING COMPETITION

Value: $2,500                                                                               Deadline: April 15, 2025

This annual writing competition by Notre Dame Law School is open to current law students within the U.S. and Canadian law schools. Applicants may submit an essay of 5,000-15,000 words (including footnotes) on any issues or concerns within the general category of legal ethics.

More application information at https://law.nd.edu/assets/601503/2025_competition_flyer.pdf

2025 Judge Bernard S. Meyer Scholarship

Value: $5,000                                                                               Deadline: April 18, 2025

The New York Bar Foundation is currently accepting applications for this Scholarship that is open to all second year (2L) students as of Spring 2025 enrolled in a law school in the New York State, who can display excellent legal writing and advocacy skills in their essay submissions on topics related to the law. The Scholarship will be applied to the recipient’s tuition and/or academic related expenses for the 2025-2026 academic year.

 

More application information at https://www.tnybf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-Judge-Meyer-Scholarship-Application.pdf