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.
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
- The Spouses of Houston Barristers are excited to announce that for the first time, SHB will be offering scholarships to 2L and 3L ethnic minorities at Houston area law schools for the SPRING semester. Scholarship awards will be up to $5000. The application, with instructions on required documentation needed to apply, are here. Official transcripts should be submitted from the law school directly to shb.scholarships@gmail.com. We encourage you to apply. Deadline: Friday, December 1, 2023.
- State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section are excited to announce the Fall 203 Student Writing Competition. The Competition is a state-wide competition, open to written submissions of insurance-related articles authored by law students in good standing from any of the ten accredited law schools in Texas. Please review submission requirements and Competition procedures and guidelines here. The deadline for Submissions of student papers is receipt by the Section on or before 11:59 p.m. CDT on Friday, December 22, 2023.
- The Marshall-Motley Scholars Program is excited that you are considering joining us in the fight for racial justice and equality. Eligibility criteria is to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university no later than September 2024. Admitted to an ABA-accredited law school as a first-year, full-time law student, in a 3-year full time JD Program to begin Fall 2024, US Citizen or a holder of a Permanent Resident green card, pursuing a career in Civil Rights law, and if award, must work in pursuit of racial justice in a southern stat for a period of 8 years immediately following the fellowship portion of the MMSP. MMSP application will open on November 1, 2023. Preview the Application Guide, and stay tuned for more application updates. Still have questions, email MMSP Deadline: Friday, February 2, 2024.
Writing Competitions
All award criteria and selection determinations are set by each individual donor (not the Law Center).
- 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.
- The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Annual Law Student Writing Competition for 2024, $500-$3,000, The ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers are pleased to announce their 2024 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, 2024
- American Indian Law Review national writing competition is now welcoming papers from students at accredited law schools in the United States and Canada. Papers will be accepted on any legal issue specifically concerning American Indians or other indigenous peoples. Three cash prizes will be awarded: $1,500 for first place, $750 for second place, and $400 for third place. Each of the three winning authors will also be awarded an eBook copy of Cohen's Handbook of Federal Indian Law, provided by LexisNexis. The first-place paper will be published in the Review. We encourage you to apply, please review competition rules here.
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
