Scholarships

Merit-based Tuition Scholarships

The School of Law offers merit-based tuition awards to select admitted applicants. These decisions are made through a committee process and take into consideration factors such as leadership skills, years of work experience, academic achievements and overcoming adversity. Merit-based scholarships can only be applied to tuition.

Public Interest Law Scholarship

As one of the nation’s leading public interest law schools, we are committed to developing a community of intelligent, thoughtful and inspired lawyers. To this end, the law school and its graduates developed the Public Interest Law Scholarship (PILS) Program in 1999. Our most generous award program, this full-tuition scholarship is granted each year to several exceptional applicants who possess impressive academic profiles and extensive experience in social justice. All prospective students who submit their applications by the March 1 application deadline will automatically be considered for the Public Interest Law Scholarship. No additional application is required; however, students who wish to bolster their candidacy for PILS may respond to the social justice optional essay question. This essay should be labeled as a PILS essay in the heading of the document and should be submitted with their application materials via LSAC.org. For more information about the Public Interest Law Scholarship and its selection process, visit our  Public Interest Law Support web page.

HBCU Scholarship

In accordance with Northeastern University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan, the law school’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholarship aims to promote racial justice and increase diversity across our community. It is granted to selected outstanding JD and FlexJD applicants who have received an undergraduate degree from a US Historically HBCU.

Applicants are automatically  considered for this half-tuition award — a minimum of five HBCU graduates are offered funding each admissions year. The scholarship renews each year as long as the student remains in good academic standing and abides by university policies including the University Code of Student Conduct and academic policies and procedures. Applications must be completed no later than March 1 to be considered for the scholarship. Additional terms and conditions apply.
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Health Policy and Law Scholarship

The Health Policy and Law Scholarship is Northeastern University School of Law’s highest honor for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of health policy and law. This full-tuition scholarship is awarded to admitted applicants with a demonstrated interest in health law and related fields. Health Policy and Law Scholars also receive a $2,000 co-op stipend, specialized mentoring and guidance, access to professional connections and networking events, and opportunities to work closely with the Center for Health Policy and Law. Scholarship decisions are made based on a variety of factors.

Intellectual Property and Innovation Scholarship

The Intellectual Property and Innovation Scholarship is the School of Law’s highest honor for students who are interested in pursuing careers in intellectual property, technology, privacy and related fields. This full-tuition scholarship is awarded to admitted applicants with a demonstrated interest in intellectual property or technology law. Intellectual Property and Innovation Scholars receive a $2,000 co-op stipend; specialized mentoring and guidance; waived exam fees for privacy certification with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP); meet-and-greets with faculty from the Center for Law, Information and Creativity; and opportunities to participate in competitions such as the trademark moot court competition. Scholarship decisions are made based on a variety of factors.

Law, Equity and Race Scholarship

The Law, Equity and Race Scholarship is Northeastern University School of Law’s highest honor for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of race, equity and law, specifically civil rights and restorative justice and criminal justice reform. This full-tuition scholarship is awarded to admitted applicants with a demonstrated interest in racial justice and related fields. Law, Equity and Race Scholars also receive a $2,000 co-op stipend and opportunities to work closely with the Center for Law, Equity and Race. Scholarship decisions are made based on a variety of factors.

Peace Corps, City Year and Teach For America Scholarships

The goals of the Peace Corps, City Year and Teach For America are a natural match with the mission of the School of Law. Many alumni/ae from these organizations wish to pursue a law degree to advance social justice and make a difference in society. To support their continued efforts, the law school offers merit-based tuition scholarships.  

Northeastern University Law Grant

Northeastern University Law Grants (NULG) are tuition scholarships awarded to first-year students based on need. Recipients of this institutionally funded program are not required to repay this award. The Financial Aid office determines all NULG award decisions. To be eligible, you must be an admitted student and file a FAFSA.

Endowed Scholarships

A variety of modest need-based tuition scholarships are awarded annually to upper-level students; some of these scholarships have very specific eligibility criteria. The application process for these named scholarships is separate and distinct from the application for financial aid.

The application process for these scholarships is separate and distinct from the application for financial aid. Endowed scholarships are awarded each fall. The application will be posted in the Weekly Wire during the beginning of the fall term.

The following endowed scholarships are awarded exclusively to second- and third- year law students, as noted below.

2Ls: Northeastern University School of Law Alumni Association Scholarship
2 & 3 Ls: School of Law Diversity Scholarship, Melvin R. and Audrey E. Wintman Scholarship
3Ls: Jeffs Scholarship, David and Dorothy Ramler Scholarship

Outside Scholarships

Outside organizations offer limited scholarships for prospective and current law students. We encourage you to explore our list of outside scholarships below.

AAUW Empower Career Development Grants
AAUW Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. Applications for AAUW Career Development Grants are open August 1–November 15.

AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank
AccessLex maintains a database of over 800 carefully curated and vetted scholarship opportunities and writing competitions — totaling more than $3 million in aid.

Anderson & Kreiger Legal Diversity Fund Stipends
Anderson & Kreiger will award financial stipends to aspiring lawyers who demonstrate financial need and who identify as part of a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented in the legal profession. The firm will award one $50,000 stipend to a current law school student and five $5,000 stipends to college students with an interest in pursuing a legal career. The stipends are intended to help address the challenges faced by students who lack the financial capital to focus exclusively on schooling like some of their peers and whose financial situation may limit their range of legal career options.
How to Apply: Applicants can submit their application, personal statement and current resume by going to https://andersonkreiger.com/about‐ak/diversity‐fund/ no later than Friday, March 31, 2023. A transcript and letters of recommendation, which may written by anyone who knows the applicant, including a community member or family member, are optional.
Other Benefits In addition to the stipend, the law school recipient will receive the following benefits: Baystate Financial has agreed to provide pro bono financial planning advice to help recipients evaluate options for utilizing the stipend.  The recipient may, but is not required to, participate in Anderson & Kreiger’s mentoring and training programs and firm-sponsored networking and social events. The recipient may, but is not required to, perform at least 20 hours of pro bono work with Anderson & Kreiger lawyers prior to graduation in order to gain hands-on experience and training. The recipient may, but is not required to, apply for a paid internship at Anderson & Kreiger during their first or second summers if enrolled in a three-year JD program, or during their second or third school summers if enrolled in a four-year JD program. Any recipient hired by Anderson & Kreiger for an internship will be paid in accordance with the firm’s standard intern salary scale, over and above the $50,000 stipend paid from the Legal Diversity Fund.

 

BARBRI Law Preview Scholarships Sponsored by WilmerHale
BARBRI Law Preview (the nation's largest law school prep course) has teamed up with WilmerHale to provide Law Preview Scholarships to ten (10) NUSL entering 1Ls.  Select members of the entering class can attend a law school prep course this summer at no cost. To learn more about this academic enrichment opportunity and see if you qualify, visit the webpage.

BARBRI Law Preview's "One Lawyer Can Change the World" Scholarship
Each year, BARBRI Law Preview honors ten future change agents who are starting law school and awards scholarships toward their 1L tuition: First Place ($10k), Second Place ($5k), and Eight Runners-up ($1k). You can review scholarship details prior to applying.

2023 BSP Law Joel Stern Scholarship
Bush Seyferth PLLC (BSP) is a women-owned boutique litigation firm located in Troy, MI, and Houston, TX. The 2023 BSP Law Joel Stern Scholarship application is now open! This scholarship was founded in 2022 in honor of Joel Stern, former CEO of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). The scholarship is open to all diverse law students with a passion for the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession.Information about the scholarship and last year’s winner can be found here. In order to be considered for this scholarship, students must submit their application by February 17, 2023. Students can e-mail lawfinaid@northeastern.edu for a copy of the scholarship application. 

Colonel Archer B. Battista Veteran’s Law School Scholarship
The Colonel Archer B. Battista Veteran’s Law School Scholarship was established in 2017 by the Hampden County Bar Association & Foundation to financially assist local veterans attending law school. Colonel Archer B. Battista, USAFR (Ret.) had a deep love and devotion to the men and women who served in our armed forces. After thirty-three years of commissioned service as active duty and as a member of the United States Reserve Air Force, he retired in 2001 as a command pilot in the grade of Colonel.                                                                                 

Upon completion of his active duty service Colonel Battista graduated from Western New England University School of Law. From 1977 until 2013, he practiced law while remaining engaged in his Air Force commitment to flying assignments and middle and senior military management missions. Through this scholarship Colonel Battista, his family and the Hampden County Bar Association hope to continue Colonel Battista’s dedication to help members of the armed services. Learn more and apply here. Please contact Noreen Nardi at the Hampden County Bar Association via email at noreen@hcbar.org or at 413-732-4660, with any questions.

Hudson County Bar Foundation Law School Scholarship
The Hudson County Bar Foundation will award scholarships to students who are attending law school or who have been accepted to law school for the September 2023 – May 2024 term. The Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship Fund is one of the oldest providers of financial assistance to Hudson County law students.  Esteemed members and families of the Hudson County legal community have funded these 50 scholarships. Students must be bona fide residents of Hudson County; must demonstrate financial need; must provide two (2) current Letters of Recommendation and must account for appropriate academic standards. Interested applicants can write to the Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship Committee, 583 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 or call (201) 798-4708, or send an e-mail to events@hcbalaw.com, or go to our web site www.hcbalaw.com for an application. You may also email lawfinaid@northeastern.edu for questions or an application.

Islamic Scholarship Fund 
ISF's Scholarship Program is now accepting applications until March 21st for the 2023-24 school year. Every year, ISF awards up to $10,000 in scholarships to up-and-coming change-makers in media, policy, law, and film. Students must be a Muslim or active member of the Muslim community, enrolled full-time at an accredited university in the U.S. by August 2023 or employed full-time in an ISF Supported Field and a part-time student at an accredited university in the U.S, an undergraduate (junior or senior) or of graduate standing (master's, PhD, or law degree), Studying an ISF-supported major, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and a U.S. citizen, DACA recipient, or permanent U.S. resident.

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Leadership Scholarship
The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Leadership Scholarship is awarded to a student who is currently enrolled in law school in Massachusetts and who demonstrates high academic achievement, exceptional leadership qualities and involvement with community service. Applicants should submit a resume, current transcript and essay of 1,000 words of less discussing their academic, personal and professional accomplishments. If you would like to apply or know someone who would, please contact Scott Ziegler at 617.218.8211 or sziegler@lawyersweekly.com.

MAX by AccessLex® Hannah R. Arterian Memorial Scholarship
Hannah R. Arterian, served as a member of the MAX by AccessLex® Board of Directors from 2011 to 2020, including two terms as Board Chair. She was an ever-present participant at the Company’s annual financial aid and student success Conference, expressing that it was her obligation to support her financial aid office and to better understand the financial issues her students faced. As a strong advocate for the Company's nonprofit mission and its vision to empower the next generation of lawyers through research, policy advocacy, and student-focused initiatives, Hannah took special interest in the creation of the MAX by AccessLex® personal finance program for law students.
Annually, one 1L MAX participant who completes the eight-part Financial Foundations course and attends at least two MAX events will be automatically entered to win a $50,000 scholarship toward their remaining law school tuition. The first drawing of the Scholarship will take place on May 1, 2023 and will thereby stand apart from the annual MAX by AccessLex® Grand Prize Scholarship Drawing on April 1. More information about the scholarship can be found here.

 

MCCA Diversity Scholarships
The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) maintains a list of numerous law school scholarships and fellowships for diverse students. Visit MCCA's website for a list of opportunities.

Scott Riemer Scholarship
The Riemer Social Security disability scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship awarded every year to a law student who submits a winning video essay explaining why he or she chose to pursue a legal career. Submissions from entering and continuing Northeastern law students are welcome. All submissions are due by August 15 each year, but applications are accepted year round.

Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program
The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law offers admissions assistance to STEM-educated law school applicants who are interested in exploring a career in patent law. Through its Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program, individuals identifying as members of racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the patent law profession can receive both financial and non-financial support throughout the law school admissions process, as well as continuing patent law career-readiness support during law school. Scholars are eligible for consideration for $30,000 law school tuition grant awards, payable over the Scholar’s 1L-3L years. Applications that are completed and submitted during the same calendar year in which the applicant is planning to enroll in law school must be submitted before April 1.

Trial LawHER Scholarship
The Trial LawHER Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship to be given to a female rising 3L who aspires to become a plaintiff trial lawyer. All law students who fit the above description are invited to apply - applications are now open and will remain open through July. Further information and instructions to apply can be found here. If you need a resource on where to begin your essay, please click here.

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