Law Student Grants

Strategic Sources for College Grants

Better than a long and error-prone list of specific law school grants is a strategy for finding the best sources for those grants. Law school isn’t cheap. Here are some recommended sources for both general grant money, as well as tips for turning up lucrative law school grants. When you are informed you make much better choices.

Types of Law School grants could also include:

  • Tuition grants
  • Research grants
  • Undergraduate or Pre-Law grants
  • Graduate grants

Federal and State Grants as Primary Funding Sources

Various Federal and state grant programs provide excellent sources of funding for college students of all types.

  • The federal Pell Grant is awarded to millions of undergraduate college students every year. Eligibility factors include family income, number in household, and number of dependents in college at any one time. So you might see how many students might qualify for some level of Pell Grant aid.
  • The federal Work Study program delivers campus-based grant money for undergraduate and graduate students with adequate financial need that they are qualified for on-campus work programs.
  • Qualify for a paid Law internship with the Department of Justice. The Legal Intern Program offers a variety of summer and academic year paid internships for eligible law students. Preference is given to those seeking eventual employment in the DOJ.

Grant Opps from Law Associations

Your best financial advocates could be law associations, from national to regional and state organizations. All have mission statements that include support and encouragement for students in the law professions. Special programs provide extra aid to women and minorities entering the field of law. You may also find travel and research grants offered through these organizations, as well.

  • The American Bar Association administers dozens of diverse grants, scholarships and student competition award programs. Grants are available to general law students, minorities, LGBT law students, and women.
  • Summer Grants are annually available to qualified and motivated law students from the Asian American Bar Association (AABA) in San Francisco. Applicants must be affiliated with a legal non-profit and be willing to clerk for cases specific to Asian Americans.

These are samples to show you what’s possibly out there in grant monies. Contact your local, regional, or state bar association or legal organization for information on local awards.

Public and Legal Service Grants from Law Schools

One of your very best and attainable grant sources is your own law school. Why? Many of them offer excellent public or legal service grant programs widely available to students. These programs match law students with legal service internships either during the academic year or during the summer. In exchange for law services, students are paid a stipend, which in turn helps pay for law school. Besides the monetary bonus, these experiences give you legal experience, which can help you land a job out of Law School.

Examples of similar programs:

  • Princeton University – ReachOut Grants
  • University of Virginia Law School – Legal Services Fellowships
  • Santa Clara University – Social Justice Grants
  • and there are many more.

**Tip: While you’re searching for Law Schools make sure those in which you’re interested offer a Public Service Grant program.