ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

The purpose of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is to encourage racial and ethnic minority students to apply to and attend law school and to provide financial assistance to ensure that these students have the opportunity to attend law school for three years.

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 need to re-apply 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. 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.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. ALL completed applications must be received (not postmarked) on or before March 1, 2013.

2. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

3. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

4. To secure a word document of the application please visit: http://www.ambar.org/DiversityScholarship.