Admissions

 

Merit Scholarships for Entering J.D. Students

Dean’s Scholarships are offered to highly qualified students in each entering first-year class.  These scholarships vary in number and amount each year, and are renewable under the terms outlined below.  As part of the Dean’s Scholarship program, we also offer at least two Dean’s Teach for America Scholarships. The terms and criteria for the Teach for America scholarships are the same as those for the Dean’s Scholarship program, except that only current or former Teach for America corps members will be considered. Every applicant accepted for admission to the J.D. program is automatically considered for available merit scholarships, and no additional application is required.

Criteria for Entering Student Scholarships:

Every J.D. applicant accepted for admission is automatically considered for available merit scholarships, and no additional application is required. The following factors are considered when awarding merit scholarships:

  • Applicant's academic record, including previous undergraduate and/or graduate institutions and test scores
  • Applicant's letters of recommendation
  • Applicant's demonstrated interest in obtaining an advanced degree as evidenced by the personal statement and other application materials
  • Other relevant qualifications

Terms for Renewing Merit Scholarships:

Merit scholarships awarded to entering J.D. students, including Dean’s Scholarships and Dean’s Teach for America Scholarships, are renewable under the following terms, unless otherwise specified.  For full-time entering students, scholarships are for all three years of the J.D. program, provided the student maintains continuous full-time enrollment and a minimum 2.9* cumulative GPA. For part-time students, scholarships are for all four years of the J.D. program, provided the student maintains a continuous full, part-time course load and a minimum 2.9* cumulative GPA.  If the student transfers from the part-time program to the full-time program, the scholarship will expire upon graduation from the JD program or at the conclusion of the fourth year, whichever comes first.
Scholarships are paid in two equal installments each year, one each for the fall and spring semester. No payment is made for summer enrollment.  The scholarship will be applied to the student’s university financial account.

*A 2.9 cumulative GPA generally equates to students in the top 70% of the entering class.  For more specific information, please refer to the Class Standing chart

Scholarship Retention Rates

Scholarship

Dean's Award Ceremony

Each year, the UHLC offers several scholarships to currently enrolled students.  During this ceremony, the Law Center recognizes student achievement in a number of areas. Submission deadline for 2014 TBA.

 

Outside Scholarship Sources

Applicants are encouraged to search for outside scholarships. Some suggestions are www.fastweb.com, www.aie.org individual organizations, sororities or fraternities, social clubs, religious or business organizations, employers of a parent, spouse or friend, foundations, town or city clubs, community organizations and civic groups such as the American Legion, YMCA, 4H Club, Elks, Kiwanis, Jaycees or girl & boy scouts. Any organization connected with your field of interest. Other options:

Fellowships

  • Houston-Galveston Schweitzer Fellows Program $2500 Stipend - One-year interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship program focused on health-related community service and leadership development. Application deadline is February 1, 2014.

 

Scholarships

Applications on this site are also available on the scholarship literature rack in the Student Services suite.

  • Tax Executives Institute Scholarship $2500 - Awarded to a student enrolled in a University of Houston Law Center degree program who is pursuing a curriculum which emphasized studies that could lead to a career in taxation. At a minimum, the student must have completed at least 12 semester hours at UH Law Center (J.D. or LL.M.) with a B average or better. Submission deadline is October 25, 2013.
  • TYLA Diversity Scholarship Program $1000 - The scholarship will be awarded to a UH Law Center student who is a member of a recognized diversity group. Submission deadline is October 25, 2013.
  • ACC Houston Chapter Diversity Scholarship $4000 - Complete the application and attach an essay about the importance of diversity in the legal profession (limited to 500 words). Submit application package to Dean Sondra Tennessee by October 30, 2013.
  • ACC Houston Chapter Veteran Scholarship $4000 - Must be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Complete the application and attach an essay about what becoming a lawyer means to you (limited to 500 words). Submit application package to Dean Sondra Tennessee by October 30, 2013.

Writing Competition

Applications on this site are also available on the literature rack in the Student Services suite.

  • AES Engineering $500 - Answer the following question:Reflecting on your personal experiences and/or circumstances, tell us something about yourself that distinguishes you as a potential scholarship candidate. Submission deadline is October 4, 2013.
  • Victoria Fisher Memorial Prize Fund - University of Leicester 250 Pounds (approximately $385 US $)- Topic: Women and the Law. Submission deadline is November 30, 2013.
  • Trusp Young Lawyers $1000 - Topic: Importance of Employment Law in America. Submission deadline is May 15, 2014.
  • Civil Rights as Human Rights $1000 - Topic: Still Struggling 50 Years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Submission deadline is December 2, 2013.
  • Crosner Legal $1000 - Topic: Importance of criminal defense law in America. Submission deadline is December 17, 2013.
  • Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas $5000 -Topic: An article on a current or general topic dealing with real property, probate, or trust law. Submission deadline is December 23, 2013.
  • SEC Historical Society Writing Competition $5000 - Topic: Corporate Governance: The essay selected must incorporate at least one material from the collection of the virtual museum and archive at www.sechistorical.org. Submission deadline is December 31, 2013.
  • NACLE Paid travel (including hotel and airfare) to the 2014 NACLE Workshop in Vancouver, Canada. Topic: Related to (a) NAFTA, or (b) comparative North American law (i.e., Canadian v. Mexican law, U.S. v. Mexican law, etc.) Submission deadline is January 5, 2014.

University of Houston Law Center
Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
100 Law Center
Houston, Texas 77204-6060
(713) 743-2269
School code 003652
lawfinaid@uh.edu