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 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 5:00 PM. 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.
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).
- Houston Bar Association Real Estate Law Section (“HBA”) is currently accepting applications for the section’s scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to second or third year law students from each of the three Houston area law schools (University of Houston, South Texas College of Law Houston, and Thurgood Marshall School of Law) with a demonstrated interest in real estate law. We encourage you to apply. Click application to apply. Deadline: Friday, March 31, 2023 5:00 p.m. CDT.
- DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship $5000-$10,000, DRI’s annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship program is open to rising (2023–2024) second-and third-year law students who come from historically marginalized groups. Deadline: March 31, 2023
- The Houston Bar Association Auxiliary is offering a scholarship for their annual Charitable Fund Award of $5000 to deserving students in Houston area law schools. It is open to any 2L law students who are Texas Residents. We encourage you to apply. Deadline: Saturday, April 1, 2023.
- BLACK LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP A scholarship of $1,500 will be given to an applicant who is a current African American law student (a minimum of 6 hours required). We invite you to apply for these opportunities. Deadline: Friday, April 1, 2023
- National LGBTQ + Bar Scholarship is offering $2,500 is open to current law students who identify as LGBTQ + and are at any stage of their law school program. Applicants must have demonstrated commitment to using the law to advance equality for the wider LGBTQ + community. We encourage you to apply. Deadline: Saturday, April 1, 2023.
- Houston Bar Association Auxiliary Charitable Fund is offering scholarships to our 2L applicants who will graduate in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024. We invite you to apply for these opportunities by completing your application form here Deadline: Saturday, April 1, 2023
- ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship is offering $15,000 to 10-20 incoming diverse law students over their three years in law school. To be eligible to receive an ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship, applicants must meet all the requirements. We encourage you to apply here. Deadline: Saturday, April 15, 2023
- The State Bar of Texas Tax Section is offering their annual scholarships for up to three(3) $2,000 scholarships to students demonstrating excellence and commitment to the study and practice of tax law. Student must be enrolled in an ABA accredited law school (UHLC), and who intends to practice tax law in Texas.We encourage you to apply. Deadline: Friday, April 21, 2023.
- American Bar Association Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) is currently accepting for the LGBT Public Interest Scholarships for Summer/Fall 2023. This scholarship is intended for law students and/or recent law school graduates studying for the Bar who are either LGBTQ+ or who will be working in the LGBTQ+ space doing public interest work. We encourage you to apply. Deadline: Friday, April 28, 2023
- THE JUDGE JOHN R. BROWN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION 30TH ANNUAL BROWN AWARD - The Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation is pleased to announce the thirtieth annual Brown Award. The Award honors excellence in legal writing in American law schools. Any law student currently enrolled in an accredited law school in the United States seeking a J.D. or LL.B degree is eligible to submit a paper for the Award. Deadline: April 28, 2023
- The annual Trial LawHER Scholarship This is a $10,000 scholarship given to a female rising 3L who aspires to become a plaintiff trial lawyer. As of 2023, applications for the Trial LawHER Scholarship are accepted annually from January 5 through May 1. Deadline: May 1, 2023
- The Hon. Constance Baker Motley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Young Member Essay Writing Competition - The Federal Bar Association’s Honorable Constance Baker Motley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Young Member Essay Competition (“Competition”) is created to celebrate the life of the Honorable Constance Baker Motley (September 14, 1921 – September 28, 2005) and promote her legacy by encouraging law students and younger federal practitioners to promote, achieve, and sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. Deadline: May 12, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST
- The Spouses of Houston Barristers is currently accepting application for deserving law students attending Houston area law schools for the 2023-2024 Award Year. This scholarship will provide financial assistance to ethnic minority law students in their L2 and L3 year. We encourage you to apply. Click application to view criteria. Deadline: Friday, July 7, 2023.
- 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
Writing Competitions
All award criteria and selection determinations are set by each individual donor (not the Law Center).
- ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty is offering $3,500 stipends to law students who spend their summers supporting organizations that work to prevent homelessness and support indigent clients or clients at risk or experiencing homelessness. We encourage you to apply here. Deadline: Friday, March 24, 2023
- The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Annual Law Student Writing Competition for 2023, $500-$3,000, The ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers are pleased to announce their 2023 writing competition. This competition is open to articles written while the author is an active student at an accredited law school in the United States. Deadline: By midnight (EDT) on June 15, 2023
- 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.
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
