Scholarships, Fellowships, & Pipeline Programs for First-Generation Law School Students (2023)
One of the main barriers to education in the U.S. is the high cost of education, especially higher education. Statistically, first-generation law school students are at a greater disadvantage when it comes to affording their J.D. programs.
First-generation law school students are defined as students whose parents did not complete a law degree. Some first-generation law school students are also first-generation college students, whose parents did not complete a traditional four-year college or university degree.
Here are some of the facts when it comes to first-generation law school students:
39% of students with familial education levels at less than the high school level amass over $100k in law school-related debt
26% of first-generation law school students completed law school debt free, compared to 33% of students who were not the first in their family to attend law school
First-generation law school students owe an average of $96,000 in student debt, compared to $71,000 for continuing-generation students
66% of first-generation law students say that financial concerns and student debt are large sources of stress or anxiety compared to 46% of continuing-generation students
Here at Barrier Breakers®, Inc., we are determined to help first-generation students on their path through law school without breaking the bank. There are many resources available to first-generation students that can reduce obstacles that may prevent them from going to law school.
We have compiled a list of scholarships, fellowships, and pipeline programs for first-generation law school students. This list includes opportunities for applicants and current students!
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Our list includes three different financial award types: scholarships, fellowships, and pipelines. We’ve given you a brief overview of what each of these are below:
Private Scholarships: Private scholarships (sometimes also referred to as “outside scholarships”) are created by organizations and businesses that are interested in supporting students through scholarship money. There may be terms depending on the scholarship, but they are typically a one-time or recurring “donation” to your law school education that goes directly to the school or your school-related expenses with no strings attached. Note that we only compiled private scholarships in our list; you should still be looking for scholarships specific to your school.
Fellowships: Student fellowships are typically offered to law school students with a specific area of interest. They may require the student to work with a specific firm in return for scholarship funds or a stipend to put toward your school expenses. They are coveted positions that can help law students transition into other full-time positions. Post-graduate fellowships are also available, where fellows receive a stipend on top of their wages for accepting a public interest job after graduation.
Pipeline Programs: These programs are designed to support and coach prospective, current, and recently graduated law school students with their professional and academic development. Most programs provide mentoring, coaching, and leadership skills training. These programs are particularly beneficial for first-generation or minority law school students who may not have the resources to navigate the process alone. Some programs fund your education, while others offer valuable support and resources.
Two of the funding opportunities that we didn’t include in our list are loan repayment assistance programs and internal scholarships. Read more about them below:
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs): This type of assistance is typically offered to law students who are interested in working in the public interest sector. LRAPs require a commitment to work in the public interest for five to ten years after graduation in return for support paying back your law school loans.
Internal Scholarships: Unlike private scholarships, these are scholarships that are provided by your specific school(s). Make sure to visit the website of the school(s) you are applying to learn about the scholarships they are providing to applicants or returning students. Sometimes these scholarships will require a separate application, and other times a student will automatically be considered for them when they apply. If you have questions about a specific scholarship, reach out the school’s admissions office.
I hope that you find this resource helpful on your law school journey! No matter where you are in the process, we are here to help! Reach out to hello@smontgomeryconsulting.com for support on all things law school.
If you are just starting your law school journey, we offer one-on-one scholarship and fellowship search support as a part of our Early Start and Spring Start Packages! You can also get one-on-one advice from our team through a strategy call or submit a scholarship essay for review by our team. Learn more about all of our support options available here.
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