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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

Merit scholarships awarded to entering full-time J.D. students, including Dean’s Scholarships and Dean’s Teach for America Scholarships, are renewable for all three years of the J.D. program, provided the student maintains continuous full-time enrollment and is in good academic standing. For part-time students, scholarships are for all four years of the J.D. program, provided the student maintains a continuous part-time course load and is in good academic standing.  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.

The scholarship is paid in two installments each year, one each for the fall and spring semesters. Each semester’s payment is contingent on your enrollment in a full course load at the University of Houston Law Center. As a full-time student, the scholarship will expire upon the completion of 90 attempted credits towards your JD, graduation from the JD program, or at the conclusion of the third year, whichever comes first.  The scholarship will be applied to your university financial account directly. For more information regarding merit scholarships, please visit law.uh.edu/financialaid/scholarships.asp.

Dean's Award Ceremony

The Dean’s Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 3:30PM. During this ceremony, the Law Center will recognize student achievement in several areas. Scholarships are also awarded.

Outside Scholarship Sources (JD & LLM)

All scholarship criteria and selection determinations are set by each individual donor (not the Law Center).

Applicants are encouraged to search for outside scholarships with 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:

Entering Students Opportunities

New scholarships for entering students will be added when received. 

Loan Repayment for Recently Appointed Peace Officers

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (The CB) announces Sept. 1 for a new loan repayment program benefitting recently appointed peace officers who have student loan debt.

Fellowships/Internships

All scholarship criteria and selection determinations are set by each individual donor (not the Law Center).

Law Center Scholarships

Outside Scholarships (JD & LLM) - All scholarship criteria and selection determinations are set by each individual donor (not the Law Center).

  • Emery Reddy, PLLC is offering its annual scholarship to law school and college undergraduate students. A total of $5,000 will be awarded as follows: • $2,000 – to one selected law school student • $1,000 – to three selected undergraduate (university/college) students
  • J.L. Turner Legar Association Foundation is currently accepting applications for students currently enrolled in an ABA-Accredited Law School as a Part-Time or Full-Time Student. In good academic standing. There are GPA requirements and expected to attend a virtual or in person Gala. Please review here. We encourage you to apply. Deadline: Friday, September 15, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. CST.
  • Frost Brown Todd is proud to announce its 2023 FBT Zenobia Harris Bivens Diversity Scholarship. Awarding two $5,000 scholarships to law students of different backgrounds and varied life experiences who attend law school in our footprint. This scholarship award does not include an offer of employment and is awarded to incoming 1L's, 2L's, 3L's, or part-time law students. To be considered for the scholarship award, students should fill out the attached application and return it, with supporting documentation, to diversityscholarship@fbtlaw.com by Deadline: Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

Writing Competitions

All award criteria and selection determinations are set by each individual donor (not the Law Center).

  • The 2023 James E. Beckley Securities Arbitration and Law Competition, sponsored by the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, $1,500, $1,000, or $750 to the winners of a paper that addresses any aspect of securities law, securities arbitration, the Federal Arbitration Act, or FINRA Code of Arbitration. Deadline: September 15, 2023.
  • The American College of Consumer Financial services Lawyers is a nonprofit association of attorneys who have made significant contributions to U.S. consumer financial services law over an extended period of time. ACCFSL is pleased to announce its 2024 annual writing competition to recognize significant written contributions to the field of U.S. consumer financial services law in the listed categories found here. Awards include cash payments of $5000, $3500, and $1500. Entries must have been written or published between November 15, 2022, and November 1, 2023. Deadline: Tuesday, November 1, 2023.

University of Houston Law Center
Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
4170 Martin Luther King Blvd
Houston, TX 77204-6060
(713) 743-2269
School code 003652
lawfinaid@uh.edu