About the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship
The mission of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is to encourage racial and ethnic minority students who are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply to law school and to provide financial assistance to ensure that these students have the opportunity to attend law school for three years. While the scholarship is not limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, foreign students studying in the United States are not eligible.
The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school. Although each recipient will not need to reapply for the scholarship in his or her second and third year, the expectation is that the scholarship will be renewed each year if satisfactory performance in law school has been achieved, the student is otherwise eligible, and funding is available.
In addition to whether the applicant is a member of a racial and/or ethnic minority that has been underrepresented in the legal profession, the applicant’s financial need; personal, family, and educational background; personal statement; and participation in community service activities will be considered in selecting the recipients of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarships. It is important for every applicant to complete all portions of the application and ensure that all required materials, including at least two letters of recommendation, are submitted ahead of the deadline. Financial information for the applicant and his or her parents is required to evaluate the applicant’s financial need. A committee of ABA members will select the recipients. The decisions of the committee are final.
2024 Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
About the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship
The mission of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is to encourage racial and ethnic minority students who are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply to law school and to provide financial assistance to ensure that these students have the opportunity to attend law school for three years. While the scholarship is not limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, foreign students studying in the United States are not eligible.
The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school. Although each recipient will not need to reapply for the scholarship in his or her second and third year, the expectation is that the scholarship will be renewed each year if satisfactory performance in law school has been achieved, the student is otherwise eligible, and funding is available.
In addition to whether the applicant is a member of a racial and/or ethnic minority that has been underrepresented in the legal profession, the applicant’s financial need; personal, family, and educational background; personal statement; and participation in community service activities will be considered in selecting the recipients of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarships. It is important for every applicant to complete all portions of the application and ensure that all required materials, including at least two letters of recommendation, are submitted ahead of the deadline. Financial information for the applicant and his or her parents is required to evaluate the applicant’s financial need. A committee of ABA members will select the recipients. The decisions of the committee are final.