Please Read Carefully:
The legal scholarships programs awards scholarships to law school students committed to racial justice. Law school scholarship awards are $15,000 per year, over three years, for a total of $45,000, provided funds remain available. Scholars must be in good academic standing and continue to meet scholarship criteria to maintain eligibility. The application deadline is May 1, 2025, 11:59 P.M. EDT.
In addition to financial assistance, law school scholars are given special consideration for LDF internships, externships, or guided research projects. Please note, internships, fellowships, and research projects are not guaranteed. All interested law students must apply. For more information, visit LDF’s fellowship and internship page.
Final scholarships decisions are made mid-August/early September, at which time all applicants will be notified of their status.
Eligibility:
Must be a U.S. Citizen
College graduate; undergraduate enrolled in the final year of college/university; or first-year law student
Record of strong academic performance
Demonstrated an ongoing commitment to racial justice and civil rights
Financial Need
Scholarship Application Checklist - Your application must include all items listed below:
Completed scholarship application form
Copy of law school acceptance letter
Two letters of recommendation
Resume
Copy of transcript from current college/university (finalists will be required to submit an official transcript)
Essay
Personal statement
Copy of LSAT score or GRE Score
Copy of Student Aid Report (FAFSA). The adjusted gross family/independent income line of your FAFSA form must be completed with a dollar amount or applicants must include a tax return (parent/guardian income tax return for families; applicant’s tax return if filed as an independent).
Finalists will be required to submit a recent professional photo. (As a guideline, your face should take up approximately 60% of the frame.)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for LDF’s law school scholarships?
Applications must be completed by May 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT.
Is there a minimum LSAT or GPA requirement to receive a law school scholarship??
There is no minimum test score or GPA requirement. Candidates are judged holistically and by the sum of their achievements and contributions. Any application review will consider a candidate's GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, volunteer activities, personal essay, and financial need. No single component of an application will determine a scholarship award.
Am I eligible for a scholarship if I am not a U.S. citizen?
No. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for the scholarship.
How/ when are awardees notified? Will I be notified if I don’t receive an award?
All applicants will be notified via e-mail in mid-August/ early September regardless of application outcome.
May I apply for a law school scholarship if I am not attending a law school located in the United States?
No. Scholarships are only available to students who will be attending accredited law schools in the United States.
I will be attending an unaccredited law school next year. May I apply for a scholarship?
No. Scholarships are only available to students who will be attending accredited three-year law schools.
Am I eligible if I attend law school part-time?
No. Applicants must be full-time students.
Note: We recommend that you only create one application to avoid problems with your submission.
The application must have two completed recommendations. Reach out to your recommenders early so they can submit their recommendations by May 1, 2025, 11:59 P.M. EDT.
For questions or assistance contact Eve Anderson at eanderson@naacpldf.org or scholarships@naacpldf.org
LDF’s Scholarship Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, parental status, physical disability, learning disability, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Law School Scholarships Application
Please Read Carefully:
The legal scholarships programs awards scholarships to law school students committed to racial justice. Law school scholarship awards are $15,000 per year, over three years, for a total of $45,000, provided funds remain available. Scholars must be in good academic standing and continue to meet scholarship criteria to maintain eligibility. The application deadline is May 1, 2025, 11:59 P.M. EDT.
In addition to financial assistance, law school scholars are given special consideration for LDF internships, externships, or guided research projects. Please note, internships, fellowships, and research projects are not guaranteed. All interested law students must apply. For more information, visit LDF’s fellowship and internship page.
Final scholarships decisions are made mid-August/early September, at which time all applicants will be notified of their status.
Eligibility:
Must be a U.S. Citizen
College graduate; undergraduate enrolled in the final year of college/university; or first-year law student
Record of strong academic performance
Demonstrated an ongoing commitment to racial justice and civil rights
Financial Need
Scholarship Application Checklist - Your application must include all items listed below:
Completed scholarship application form
Copy of law school acceptance letter
Two letters of recommendation
Resume
Copy of transcript from current college/university (finalists will be required to submit an official transcript)
Essay
Personal statement
Copy of LSAT score or GRE Score
Copy of Student Aid Report (FAFSA). The adjusted gross family/independent income line of your FAFSA form must be completed with a dollar amount or applicants must include a tax return (parent/guardian income tax return for families; applicant’s tax return if filed as an independent).
Finalists will be required to submit a recent professional photo. (As a guideline, your face should take up approximately 60% of the frame.)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for LDF’s law school scholarships?
Applications must be completed by May 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT.
Is there a minimum LSAT or GPA requirement to receive a law school scholarship??
There is no minimum test score or GPA requirement. Candidates are judged holistically and by the sum of their achievements and contributions. Any application review will consider a candidate's GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, volunteer activities, personal essay, and financial need. No single component of an application will determine a scholarship award.
Am I eligible for a scholarship if I am not a U.S. citizen?
No. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for the scholarship.
How/ when are awardees notified? Will I be notified if I don’t receive an award?
All applicants will be notified via e-mail in mid-August/ early September regardless of application outcome.
May I apply for a law school scholarship if I am not attending a law school located in the United States?
No. Scholarships are only available to students who will be attending accredited law schools in the United States.
I will be attending an unaccredited law school next year. May I apply for a scholarship?
No. Scholarships are only available to students who will be attending accredited three-year law schools.
Am I eligible if I attend law school part-time?
No. Applicants must be full-time students.
Note: We recommend that you only create one application to avoid problems with your submission.
The application must have two completed recommendations. Reach out to your recommenders early so they can submit their recommendations by May 1, 2025, 11:59 P.M. EDT.
For questions or assistance contact Eve Anderson at eanderson@naacpldf.org or scholarships@naacpldf.org
LDF’s Scholarship Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, parental status, physical disability, learning disability, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.