External Scholarships & Awards

These are private scholarships offered by law firms and community organizations. Scholarships are available to incoming and continuing students. Click on the links for more information and to see if you qualify. All scholarships are organized by their deadlines.

On this page:

Resources for additional information:

NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF)

The NLF promotes the development, advancement, leader and public service of Asian Pacific, Native-Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in the legal profession through fellowships, scholarships, education and community partnerships. NLF carries out its work primarily by awarding scholarships and fellowships that promote the interests of the AANHPI community. There are several opportunities open for application:

  • 2025 SAIL Scholarship
    Value: $7,500 over two years
    Deadline: June 30, 2025

More information on above opportunities: https://www.napabalawfoundation.org/open-scholarships

2025 Norman P. Effman Scholarship

Value: $5,000                                                                                  Deadline: May 19, 2025

The New York Bar Foundation is currently accepting applications for this Scholarship established by the Honorable Michael M. Mohun.  It is open to all second year (2L) and third year (3L) law students in the Fall 2025 who are enrolled in a New York State law school.  The student should demonstrate interest and intent to work in a rural locale representing indigent individuals who are litigants in Family court, Criminal court, or other courts where the individuals may be facing civil legal issues.  Preference is given to students demonstrating financial need.

More application information at https://www.tnybf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-Norman-Effman-Scholarship-Application.pdf

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and ABA Labor and Employment Law section:2025 Annual Law Student Writing Competition

First Place: $3,000                                        Second Place: $1,000                                 Third Place: $500

Submission Deadline: June 15, 2025

This Competition is open to articles written while the author is an active student at an accredited law school in the United States and has not graduated from law school prior to December 1, 2024.  The first-place winning article may be selected for publication in the ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law. The author of the first-place winning article will be a guest at the ABA Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference and honored at the Annual Induction Dinner of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

All pertinent competition information: https://theclel.org/law-student-writing-competition/

2025 Intellectual Property Law Section Diversity Committee - Miriam Maccoby Netter Scholarship

Value: $5,000                                                                                  Deadline: June 30, 2025

The New York Bar Foundation is currently accepting applications for this Scholarship that is open to all first year (1L) students, entering their second year in the Fall; and second year (2L) students, entering their third year in the Fall, enrolled in a New York State law school during 2025-2026 academic year.  The student should have an interest in intellectual property law and must have attained at least 2.5 or equivalent GPA in law school.

More application information at https://www.tnybf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-IP-Section-Mimi-Netter-Scholarship-Application.pdf

28TH ANNUAL ENTERTAINMENT LAW INITIATIVE WRITING CONTEST

First Place        : $10,000 Tuition Scholarship and more

Runner-Ups     : $2,500 Tuition Scholarship and more (2 available)

Submission Deadline: October 8, 2025

In partnership with the American Bar Association, the Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) Writing Contest awards excellence with scholarship prizes, industry mentors and tickets to exclusive GRAMMY Week events. Applicants would identify, research and propose solutions to pressing legal issues in the music industry. Winning entries will be published in the ABA Entertainment & Sports Lawyer journal, and winners will be recognized at the GRAMMY Week ELI Luncheon attended by industry leaders and legal professionals.

Contest Information and Rules at https://events.recordingacademy.com/eliwc?gz=d832c270d2450e0de91b41a121e8cf98&guest-access-hash=NDU5MTgyMzYzfDgwMDQxNTc4MXwxNzQ2NjQ4MDYyOzQ1NWE2ZmY1OThiYzFlMmRmNGVjZjVkZDZjMzJmZTg4MDAyOGZlZWFhNTRkMDM2ZTdkMWYzZGM4NDUxMGEzMzQ=

2026 LEWIS M. ROSE SCHOLARSHIP:

One paid Summer Associate position with full-time Associate position offering

Review of Applications: Rolling basis

Kelly Drye & Warren LLP is currently accepting applications for this Scholarship which is open to all outstanding rising second year (2L) law students who are enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school scheduled to graduate in 2027. The Scholarship includes a paid summer associate position in their New York or New Jersey offices following the second year of law school.  The Scholarship recipient also receives a $25,000 award paid in two installments as a signing bonus—one upon completion of the summer program, and the second, upon starting as a full-time Associate at the firm.

More application information at https://www.kelleydrye.com/lewis-m-rose-scholarship