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:

2025 Jana Springer Behe Corporate Counsel Section Fellowship

Value: $7,000                                                                                               Deadline: February 7, 2025

The New York Bar Foundation is currently accepting application for this Fellowship that is open to all second year (2L) law students enrolled in a New York State law school from under-represented groups capable of fulfilling the requested work hours and responsibilities.   Taking place at Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York over the summer of 2025, the selected Fellow will assist the organization with legal matters relating to counsel or advice to the organization. 

Information and application at https://www.tnybf.org/2025-jsb-corpcounsel-fellowship-application/

The New York Bar Foundation: 2025 Trust and Estates Law Section Fellowship

Value: $7,500 (several opportunities available)                 Deadline: February 17, 2025

These Fellowship opportunities are open to all first-year (1L) and second-year (2L) law students as of Fall 2024 semester, enrolled in a New York State law school who intend to practice law in New York State upon graduation, and who are available to fulfil the Fellowship work hours and responsibilities for ten weeks over summer 2025.  The students will gain meaningful and appropriately supervised work experience located in the following courts:

1.      the Chambers of the Honorable Acea M. Mosey of Erie County Surrogate’s Court; or

2.      the Chambers of the Honorable Rosemarie Montalbano of Kings County Surrogate’s Court; or

3.      the Chambers of the Honorable Jonathan G. Schopf of Saratoga County Surrogate’s Court; or

4.      the Chambers of the Honorable Paul V. Morgan of Rensselaer County Surrogate’s Court.

More information on Fellowship eligibility and requirements

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/

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/