External Scholarships
Need additional sources of funding available to help finance your legal education? Below is a list of external scholarships offered by nonprofit organizations, foundations, law firms, and networking groups.
External Scholarships
Organizations, groups, and nonprofits occasionally contact California Western with information about scholarships their agencies offer. While this is not an exhaustive list, the following are some of the scholarships currently being offered:
AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank
The AccessLex Institute® invites you to utilize their newest tool to find money that’s already available to help pay for law school and lower your student loan burdens. Search over 800 carefully curated and vetted scholarship opportunities and writing competitions, with filters to help you find the ones best suited for you.
AccessLex Scholarship Databank
Nancy E. O'Malley Scholarship
The CWL Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2024 Nancy E. O'Malley Scholarship. The scholarship was founded in 2016 to honor CWL Past President Nancy O'Malley (2009-2010) for her dedication and commitment to promoting California Women Lawyers and protecting all women and children in our society. The scholarship is awarded annually to a law student whose prior and current activities, and future plans demonstrate a commitment to issues affecting women and/or children in the community. The application deadline is October 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
Disability Rights Now (DRN) Scholarship
The mission of DRN is to address the lack of opportunities for people with disabilities in the legal profession. Notably, 20% of California’s population have a disability but less than 1% of employees in law firms report being disabled according to the ABA Profile of the Legal Profession 2021. This is not consistent with the goal of having a legal profession reflective of our society. For more information on DRN, please visit www.disabilityrightsnow.com. This opportunity is open to current California law school students (1L through 3L) who have demonstrated a commitment to disability rights and inclusion in the legal industry. Application Deadline is November 1, 2024.
Disability Rights Now (DRN) Scholarship
IALA Law School Scholarship
The IALA Scholarship Committee bases its decision on the applications received and may interview applicants. The Committee awards the scholarship based on three equal factors: (1) academic achievement, (2) financial need, and (3) potential contribution to the Los Angeles-metropolitan area Italian-American community. This scholarship is open to all persons enrolled at least part-time in a program leading to a J.D. and you need not be Italian-American. Applications must be received by November 4, 2024.
Criminal Justice Scholarship
Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C. is proud to introduce the Criminal Justice Scholarship, specifically designed for law students who are interested in helping individuals within the criminal justice system. Eligible Students must meet all of the following criteria: enrolled full-time in an accredited law program within the United States; demonstrated interest in the criminal justice system; United States residents or permanent citizens; and 18 years of age or older. Additionally, the student’s grade point average will also be considered when reviewing applications. All materials must be submitted by November 18, 2024.
Federal Employment Rights Scholarship
The Law Firm of Aaron D. Wersing PLLC is now accepting applications for the "Aaron D. Wersing Federal Employment Rights Scholarship Contest". They want to hear from law students enrolled in ABA-accredited law schools on their thoughts on the following questions: How are federal employees’ rights different from employees working in the private sector; and do you feel that federal employees have more or less protections than employees in the private sector? The application deadline is November 18, 2024.
Federal Employment Rights Scholarship
Lloyd Ellis Griffin Memorial Scholarship
The Lloyd Ellis Griffin Foundation, Inc. is now accepting applications for their Lloyd Ellis Griffin Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships, named for the late California Court of Appeal judge, Lloyd Ellis Griffin, are presented each year by the Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal organization, on the anniversary of Griffin’s birth. They will select the scholarship recipients, let them know of their awards, and present the awards at their awards reception held in February. Eligible applicants must be Masons or have a family member with Masonic affiliation and be a 2L or 3L enrolled law student during the Spring 2025 term. Submission deadline is November 19, 2024 at noon.
Lloyd Ellis Griffin Memorial Scholarship
OC ABOTA Scholarships for Third-Year Students
The Orange County Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (OC ABOTA) is providing grant monies to law students who are residents of Orange County. Law students meeting the requirements listed on the Fall 2024 Scholarship Announcement below may submit applications to be considered for the Fall 2024 Awards. The required transcript, essay and curriculum vitae must be sent by email by December 6, 2024.
OC ABOTA Scholarships for Third-Year Students
Committing to Justice Scholarship
The Texas law firm of Hutchison & Foreman is proud to offer their Committing to Justice Scholarship to offer financial assistance to students who are pursuing law degrees. Law students interested in representing plaintiffs in civil rights or employment discrimination cases, who are 18 years of age or older, and enrolled in an accredited law school are encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on December 9, 2024.
Committing to Justice Scholarship
FCBA Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Fresno County Bar Association ("FCBA") announces its 2024 Scholarship Award from the Fresno County Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 1966 to provide grant monies to law students residing in Fresno County. Law students meeting the requirements listed on the Fall 2024 Scholarship Announcement below may submit applications to be considered for the Award. Scholarship applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2024.
FCBA Memorial Scholarship Fund
Dreams Without Borders Scholarship
Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC is proud to offer their Dreams Without Borders Scholarship to law students from immigrant families who are committed to making meaningful contributions to immigration law and policy. Eligible candidate for the Spring 2025 Dreams Without Borders Scholarship must: come from an immigrant family; demonstrate a strong academic record, maintaining a 3.0 GPA minimum; be enrolled in an accredited law school in the United States for the Spring 2025 semester; be at least 17 years of age or older; and be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient. The application deadline is December 16, 2024.
Dreams Without Borders Scholarship
Lawyers’ Mutual First-Generation Student Scholarship
The aim of the Lawyers’ Mutual First-Generation Student Scholarship is to provide support to law school students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education and a legal career and to help promote a more inclusive legal community by bridging the opportunity gap typically not afforded to first-generation students who may not have had the same resources and/or opportunities as others. Essay submissions will be accepted between November 11, 2024, and January 1, 2025. The essay should be submitted along with your other application materials by email to by the January 1, 2025, deadline.
Lawyers’ Mutual First-Generation Student Scholarship
Justice Hollis G. Best Scholarship
As a memorial to the late Presiding Justice Hollis G. Best, his friends have established a scholarship to encourage and support outstanding academic achievement and commitment to service by law students. Each candidate must be a law student or recent graduate who has successfully completed at least one year of law school. Strong preference will be given to current residents of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare or Tuolumne Counties. Completed applications must be received by January 15, 2025.
Justice Hollis G. Best Scholarship